The first leg between these two side’s had been seemingly uninspiring but neither side looked content in defending at the El Madrigal.
Napoli took the lead in the 18th minute when Ezequiel Lavezzi sent in a wonderful cross which one of four Napoleon players could have converted. The Villarreal defense hadn’t stepped up in time allowing Marek Hamsik to direct a diving header beyond Diego Lopez.
Villarreal had begun the game straddled with nerves but falling behind sparked them into life.
Nilmar found some space inside the penalty area and sent a fierce drive across the goalkeeper to level proceedings.
Borja Valero brought the ball forward with positivity and he slipped in Giuseppe Rossi. The Italian was able to put Villarreal ahead in the 43rd minute when he worked the ball onto his favored left-foot before unleashing a shot. Morgan de Sanctis watched hopelessly as the deflected strike lopped over him before nestling in the net.
The Azzurri created the first golden chance when Andreas Dossena presented Lavezzi with a glorious opportunity but the Italian was unable to control his first-time shot and the opening passed him by.
It didn’t take Napoli long before they took lead through Hamsik. The Azzurri captain directed Lavezzi’s cross beyond Diego Lopez to give his side an away goal.
The goal kick started Villarreal into action. Borja Valero crashed two similar drives towards the Napoli goal but each time his efforts fizzed narrowly wide of the target.
With both side’s beginning to open up, Napoli launched a devastating counter-attack as Lavezzi latched onto Hassan Yebda’s ball forward but with only Diego Lopez to beat the Italian could only fire at the goalkeeper.
Diego Lopez was called into action moments later, Yebda found himself in space inside the area only to see his effort expertly tipped around the post by Diego Lopez.
Villarreal changed the game’s complexion within two minutes of Nilmar’s equalizer.
Th Brazilian found half a yard inside Napoli’s penalty area and fired low across de Sanctis to make amends for his miss moments earlier.
Giuseppe Rossi completed the first half recovery thanks to a deflection which took his shot over a grounded Morgan de Sanctis.
The early stages of the second half saw a flourish of yellow cards as the game became a heated affair.
The Azzurri brought on leading goalscorer Edinson Cavani and he came close to making an immediate impact. The Uruguayan struck a low shot across goal but his effort cannoned back off the far post allowing Villarreal to escape.
With the game poised perilously at 2-1 Villarreal looked to put the game out of reach but Nilmar was unable to add to his first half-effort after Andrea Dossena had recovered well.
Villarreal’s failure to score a third goal resulted in a tense conclusion to the tie with Diego Lopez having to save from point blank. Dossena had risen highest in the penalty area but his header was expertly tipped away by Diego Lopez.
With four minutes of injury time signaled Napoli committed themselves in search of an equalizer but the Yellow Submarine remained resilient in defense and secured a memorable victory.
Juan Carlos Garrido’s men will play a Bayern Leverkusen team who came out as 8-0 aggregate victors over FC Metalist.
Napoli’s elimination see’s with it the complete removal of all Italian sides in the Europa League, but Walter Mazzarri will hope his side will continue to challenge for the Serie A title.
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Villarreal 2-1 Napoli: The Yellow Submarine Recover From A Goal Down To Progress To The Last 16