Football Italia Live Blog
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Good evening and welcome to the Football Italia Liveblog for coverage of this evening’s Champions League fixtures: Villarreal vs. Juventus and Napoli vs. Sporting CP.
Both matches are scheduled to get underway at 20.00 BST.
Juventus picked up a point in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Borussia Dortmund last time out in Europe, while Napoli fell to a 2-0 defeat away against Manchester City after being reduced to 10 men 20 minutes in.
Check in for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions.
“To me, the performance in Milan didn’t displease me at all but the two goals came from situations where we could have done better. We’ve talked about how to improve. When it comes to the negative aspects, you have to be constructive and try to work on them.
It’s clear that if at San Siro you go two goals down against Milan, it’s difficult to come back. But we controlled the game and in my opinion this is a step forward compared to last year. Last season in Milan we won 2–0 but it was Milan who made the game. Even here at the Maradona, we were at risk until the end.
Today I see a very mature team in terms of game management. But we mustn’t lose the characteristics we had, the aggression and the fear, because healthy fear makes you run back. We try to push forward, but when we get bypassed, we must immediately recover.”
“We have two paths,” he began.
“Either we continue on this path with four midfielders, as I think we should because we have great room for improvement, or we can play with a 4-3-3 as we did at the end of the game tonight, perhaps alternating between a more physical midfield and a more technical one in which De Bruyne can play as a mezzala. The important thing is that everyone sacrifices themselves in both phases.”
“Kevin, compared to the other signings, comes from a different reality. He spent years at City and played at the very highest level.
“I have nothing to say to him, he’s a very good lad and he works hard. I understand his desire to play, but there are also substitutions. I want to win and if I make them, it’s with the intention of improving the team. Then it’s normal that in the media they are discussed depending on the results – the important thing is that everyone gives their all for the team.”
On Conte and the so-called drama:
“With Conte there has never been any problem. I am a winner, I want to play football and make the difference. A lot has been said and written, but I just want to enjoy myself and move forward.”
On his role in Napoli’s midfield:
“At the start I played in a similar way at City, often dropping deeper. These are decisions that belong to the coach, but I think we can switch positions between all four of us. Even so, without a real left winger it is sometimes difficult to find depth.”
“There’s always a feeling of regret when you concede a goal in the last minute. It would be nice to play 90 minutes at the highest possible level, but it’s not easy. We have our weaknesses, too.”
“The three defenders are doing better than anyone lese. We need to be winning more second balls. The three at the back held the fort for the whole game.”
And on Gatti specifically, he added: “It was a great goal, he had a great game.”
“Do what can be done, be positive. Chico came on and made the difference. We did what we could, even with some mistakes. Unfortunately they came in the last few minutes.”
“I’m sorry, it’s part of the game. You can’t lose a game in the last seconds from a corner like that. We’ll take this point and move on.
“We worked and prepared as best we could, but we did have some difficulties. There was too much of a frenzy and too many nerves. Too many simple passes we got wrong.”
“I felt pretty good, even if of course I’m more comfortable on the left.
“The De Bruyne case? It lasted five minutes because we are all intelligent people. We don’t put malice in our actions and we all want the good of Napoli.
“Three very important points against a strong team, full of young, technical and quick players. After a good start we dropped off a little, but in the second half we pushed again.
“We are happy to have sent a signal after the defeat against Milan and now we must finish this cycle well against Genoa.”
“He tries it sometimes, it’s great he managed to do it today. We have to continue working hard if we want to win in the Champions League.”
“I’m not saying that (the game changed) because I came on, but that the team understood what we needed to improve at the end of the first half.
“We have to train a little better: We improved in the second half but couldn’t get the win.
“We missed another goal, which we deserved, but it must be said that we played a strong team. We have to continue, be strong and think about the next big challenge in Serie A.”
“A fantastic evening and I thank my teammates for this.
“We’ve picked up our first points in the Champions League but the journey is long and we need to keep going like this. Later on we’ll also face Eintracht, where my brother Oscar plays, and I can’t wait.”
“I thanked him. Kevin is a legend of this sport and when he has the ball, I know that with his quality he will always put it perfectly for me.”
Kevin De Bruyne was Football Italia’s MOTM for Napoli’s win over Sporting. Read the full player ratings here.
Click here to read the full-time report after Juventus’s 2-2 draw away against Villarreal.
The Bianconeri have to settle for another point in the Champions League.
A frustrated Conceicao lashes out with a shove and earns a booking.
The full-time whistle blows and Napoli secure all three points.
Five minutes added on.
There will be 4 minutes added.
Former Juventus defender nods home from a corner in the final minute of regular time.
Napoli look quite content with their lead now and the visitors have run out of steam, as a vital three points draws closer on the horizon for Antonio Conte.
Confirmation that a yellow card was shown to Akhomach prior to the Villarreal penalty appeals.
Vlahovic is on for David for the final few minutes.
Villarreal feel they should have had a penalty for handball after a long throw into the area. Nothing given, check complete!
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