Serie A Daily Report - 2026-10-13: Napoli collapse to Champions League defeat at Villarreal

Napoli lost 3-1 to Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday. Amir Rrahmani gave the Italian champions the lead, but Georges Mikautadze equalised after a Matteo Politano back-pass, before Santiago Mouriño and Tani Oluwaseyi completed Villarreal’s comeback. The defeat exposed Napoli’s vulnerability after they surrendered control of a match they had started positively. Errors in possession allowed Villarreal to press effectively, while Napoli struggled to regain their shape once the score was level. The result added another difficult European night to Massimiliano Allegri’s early work at the club.

Allegri said Napoli had been punished by conceding immediately after the equaliser and criticised the team’s midfield pressure and passing. He also acknowledged that the side had left Rafa Marín isolated under pressure, highlighting concerns about Napoli’s defensive protection and composure. The manager’s comments suggested that the problem was collective rather than confined to one mistake. Napoli will need a more controlled response in their next fixtures, because repeated lapses in European competition could make qualification substantially harder even if their domestic form remains competitive.

Inter Milan host Club Brugge at San Siro on Tuesday in the second league-phase match of the Champions League. Cristian Chivu’s side lead Serie A with 16 points from six matches and remained unbeaten after a 3-0 victory over Parma in their latest league outing. Their European campaign began with a 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid, despite Carlos Augusto scoring for the Italian side. That result left Inter searching for their first continental win of the season, making the meeting with Club Brugge an important opportunity to reset their European campaign.

Club Brugge arrive in Milan after winning four consecutive Belgian league matches, including a 4-1 victory over RAAL La Louvière. They also lost their Champions League opener, going down 3-2 to Aston Villa after twice equalising through Hugo Vetlesen and Nicolò Tresoldi. Inter therefore face opponents with attacking confidence but defensive issues of their own. Lautaro Martínez was identified as one of the players to watch, while Chivu’s team will be expected to turn its strong domestic start into a first European result under the new competition format.

José Mourinho said he would set aside his affection for Roma when Real Madrid visit the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday. Mourinho led Roma to the Europa Conference League title in 2022 and reached the Europa League final the following season, but he said the supporters’ desire to win would be matched by his own determination to take three points. Roma are hosting their first Champions League match in seven years, giving the fixture added significance for the Italian club and its supporters. Mourinho also described Inter and Roma as the two strongest sides in Serie A.

The Real Madrid manager said emotions could surface before or after the match, but not during it. Madrid began the league phase by beating Inter 2-1 and arrive after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Villarreal, although they had previously lost to Atlético Madrid. Mourinho also said he believed both Roma and Real Madrid would qualify, framing the match as an important early test rather than a decisive conclusion. Roma’s unbeaten domestic start under Gian Piero Gasperini has made the fixture a serious examination of their progress against elite European opposition.

Luciano Spalletti and Fabio Pisacane were each given one-match bans on Tuesday after their altercation following Juventus’ 1-1 draw at Cagliari on Sunday. Both coaches were shown straight red cards after a heated exchange during the customary post-match greeting. Spalletti will miss Juventus’ home match against Lazio this weekend, while Pisacane will be absent for Cagliari’s trip to Monza on Monday. The disciplinary ruling followed a match in which Cagliari held Juventus to a point, denying the visitors a winning conclusion to the weekend’s fixture.

Spalletti said after the match that “nothing happened really” and described his remark to Pisacane as a compliment about time-wasting. The account recorded by the league judge nevertheless resulted in suspensions for both managers, removing them from important fixtures at a stage when touchline leadership remains particularly influential. Juventus will now prepare for Lazio without Spalletti in the technical area, while Cagliari must deal with Pisacane’s absence away from home. The sanctions close the incident administratively but leave both clubs with immediate tactical and organisational adjustments.

Venezia lost 3-1 away to Atalanta on Tuesday, suffering a sixth consecutive Serie A defeat. The result left Venezia without a point from their opening six league matches and at the bottom of the table, with forward Akor Adams facing an increasingly difficult start to life at the club. Six defeats have already created an early gap between Venezia and the teams above them, while the latest loss again underlined the side’s inability to turn competitive moments into points. Their position means the pressure to respond will increase quickly despite the campaign still being in its early stages.

The defeat has intensified concern over Venezia’s prospects of remaining in the top flight. The club must begin collecting points before the losing sequence becomes a defining feature of the season, particularly with relegation rivals also seeking early separation. For Adams, the current situation offers little room for individual momentum as Venezia continue to struggle collectively. The immediate priority is to halt the run rather than focus on longer-term targets, because another setback would make recovery more complicated and place greater scrutiny on the squad and coaching staff.

Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Roma full-back Emanuele Lulli, according to TeamTalk, with Chelsea and Liverpool also interested in the 19-year-old. Lulli had not made a senior appearance before this season but started Roma’s opening four Serie A matches, all of which the club won. His rapid promotion into first-team football has placed him among the early-season young players attracting attention from abroad. The report said Roma were considering a new contract for the teenager, although the available details concerned interest rather than a confirmed offer or negotiations.

Lulli’s emergence has added another development story to Roma’s strong start under Gian Piero Gasperini. Starting four consecutive league matches at 19 has increased his visibility and made his contract position more relevant, particularly with several Premier League clubs reportedly watching. Arsenal’s interest would fit their stated appetite for emerging talent, but any transfer would depend on Roma’s intentions and the player’s continued progress. For now, the key development is the scouting attention generated by Lulli’s first senior run rather than a completed move or formal bid.