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Napoli determined to progress at Villarreal

Walter Mazzarri said his side will not be distracted by events elsewhere in Group A as SSC Napoli attempt to claim a win that will confirm their place in the knockout phase at Villarreal CF.

Walter Mazzarri speaks to the press ahead of Napoli's decisive game with Villarreal
Walter Mazzarri speaks to the press ahead of Napoli's decisive game with Villarreal ©Getty Images

SSC Napoli will ensure second place in UEFA Champions League Group A with victory at Villarreal CF and coach Walter Mazzarri says they will "think only of our match" even though they will not even need to avoid defeat if Manchester City FC do not beat section winners FC Bayern München.

Villarreal
Coach Juan Carlos Garrido

We are in a recovery phase so we have to give some players a few minutes playing time to introduce them gradually into the team. We will field the players who are in the best condition, the ones who can last for 90 minutes. We will use this match to restore our players' confidence, and obviously to get strength for the rest of the season.

We have been in the strongest group in the history of the Champions League and we want to leave the pitch knowing that we have played quality football. We want to finish this race showing our strength and that, even with so many injured players, this team can still play the same brand of good football that everyone expects from Villarreal. We do not care what Manchester City and Napoli do; we want to play well and have the satisfaction of having beaten a great team.

Weekend result
Saturday: Real Racing Club 1-0 Villarreal (Stuani 27)
López; Mario, Gonzalo (Moisés 62), Musacchio, Oriol; Pérez, Ángel (De Guzmán 46), Bruno, Borja Valero, Cani (Nilmar 46); Rubén

• Villarreal slipped to their third successive defeat – and seventh in ten games – despite Nilmar's return from injury. The Yellow Submarine have won just four of their last 25 games in all competitions going back to 8 May.

Team news
Nilmar is back after ten weeks out with a cyst on his knee, while Cani started at Racing on his return from a knee problem that had kept him out since 29 October. Javier Camuñas (right leg), Cristián Zapata (knee ligaments) and Gerard Bordás (ankle) have all been sidelined while José Catalá (thigh) and Giuseppe Rossi (knee ligaments) are out until next year.

Napoli
Coach Walter Mazzarri

If Napoli make it through to the next round it is because we deserve it. We must think only of our match, must focus on our game and our way of playing football and ignore everything else. Villarreal have had very bad luck in this Champions League and on paper they have nothing to play for, but they have their pride and their footballing values and all their players will be entering the field wanting to win the game. Villarreal are a very organised team and, despite their multiple injuries, I am sure they will go out on the pitch determined to beat us.

We believe that being in the final match of the group stage with the chance to progress is incredible. We know this is a great event for everyone in the city and the crowded Naples airport showed that this morning. But for me personally this is just as important as our other matches.

Weekend result
Saturday: Napoli 4-2 US Lecce (Lavezzi 26, Cavani 33 82, Dzemaili 41; Muriel 54, Corvia 90+3)
De Sanctis; Fernández, Aronica, Fideleff (Grava 75); Maggio, Dzemaili, Inler (Hamšík 67), Dossena; Pandev (Gargano 60), Lavezzi; Cavani

• Blerim Dzemaili's second league goal since December 2006 helped Walter Mazzarri record his 100th Serie A victory as a coach. It was, however, only the Partenopei's second win in their last seven games in all competitions.

Team news
Marco Donadel (thigh) and Miguel Britos (broken foot) are long-term absentees. Salvatore Aronica and Christian Maggio are one booking from suspensions.

Match fact
The Serie A side suffered elimination from the UEFA Europa League when they lost 2-1 at Villarreal CF in February. After a goalless draw in Naples, Garrido's men fell behind to an 18th-minute Marek Hamšík goal in the return but replied through Nilmar and Rossi late in the first half to progress.

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