For this game, the club's hierarchy meant that it was a strategic abandonment.

Only Jose, who is not willing to admit defeat without a fight.

Although Paul Lambert did not express his position on Jose's insistence, he silently arranged for all the main players to start on the field, which has explained everything.

Thursday, February 20 at 21:05 local time.

At Villa Park, the match between Villa and Napoli officially began.

The starting line-ups for both sides were announced before the start of the game.

On the side of Vera.

Goalkeeper: Jose.

Defenders: Bertrand, Clark, Vlaar, Lowton.

Defenders: Delph, Westwood.

Avant-garde: Weiman, Bakuna, Abonlahio.

Center: Benteke.

Baker returned from injury and was on the bench.

As for Napoli, Benitez also sent a 4231 formation.

Goalkeeper: Rafael Cabral.

Defenders: Reviere, Britos, Enrique Adriano, Maggio.

Defenders: Inle, Djemaili.

Avant-garde: Insigne, Hamsik, Callejon.

Centre: Higuain.

At the end of last season, Benitez stepped down from Chelsea and quickly coached Napoli, and now after 24 rounds of Serie A, Napoli is third with 15 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses.

Compared to the same period last season, although the ranking has dropped, the winning rate has hardly changed, and it is frighteningly stable.

Villa drew the first kick-off.

After the start of the game, it suddenly rained heavily in the sky, which affected the performance of players on both sides.

Villa were the first to complete the first wave of attacks.

Unfortunately, Weimann's shot was deflected wide.

Napoli's counter-attack ultimately failed to form a shot on goal.

In this game, Benitez's strategy is too obvious, which is to try to keep a clean sheet and then return to the home stadium to make plans.

Therefore, Napoli have empty possession, but they will not attack easily, and they choose to fall at the back more often.

Napoli didn't attack or shoot, which left Jose with few chances to save.

However, the rain was getting heavier and heavier, and Jose had to bounce back and forth in the goal, otherwise it would be too cold.

As for Villa's attack, it was bravely defused by Raphael every time, making Benteke and them return in vain every time.

According to the statistics after the game, the Villa team completed 20 shots in the whole game, and 10 shots on target, but could not get a goal.

Napoli, on the other hand, had 47 per cent possession and had just seven shots on goal, with just two shots on target.

Jose made all the saves with ease.

The first leg between the two sides ended 0-0.

The final promotion spot will be reserved for the second leg in a week's time.

Benitez said he was pleased with the result, after all, they have a bigger advantage when they return to their home stadium.

Don't think about the second leg against Napoli next week.

Because in three days' time, Villa will play Newcastle United away in the league.

Newcastle United are currently 10th with 37 points and are not out of the question of European competition.

At half past four o'clock in the afternoon local time, the weather was sunny and the temperature was 6~11 degrees.

It's still cold, but you don't have to fight in the rain.

Newcastle United were given the first kick-off.

However, it was Villa who completed the first wave of attacks.

Unfortunately, Ahmadi's shot failed to threaten Newcastle goalkeeper Krul.

Newcastle United's counter-attack.

Anita passes through and the ball reaches the feet of Tiot.

From 25 yards out from outside the Villa box, Tiott volleyed straight into the top right corner.

Jose lifted the ball off the line with one hand.

Newcastle United were awarded the first corner of the game.

…

In the first half, neither side achieved anything.

Villa's game seems to be going back to that rhythm of no goals and no goals conceded.

In fact, it is.

Villa's frontcourt players, with the exception of Benteke, are all out of form.

On the other hand, Newcastle United, whether it is Remy or Cisse, or De Jong, who came on as a substitute, can find opportunities to shoot with their feet.

Had it not been for Jose's courageous play, Newcastle would have taken the lead early.

Just when Villa fans thought it was going to be another dull draw, Newcastle United had a good chance to score.

In the 92nd minute, substitute Frenkie de Jong picked up the ball in front of the penalty area.

Facing Villa's backline, De Jong suddenly fired a powerful right-footed shot from the edge of the box.

Jose made a flying save to keep De Jong's shot out.

However, the ball failed to roll far and was eventually met by Remy.

In the face of Vlar's interception, Remy directly deducted Vlar.

From 12 yards out in the box, Remy fired a powerful shot into the bottom right corner of the goal.

At this time, Jose had just gotten up from the left side of the goal.

Seeing the ball go over the goal line.

Jose moved.

After José managed to get a second, he finally blocked the ball on the goal line.

The ball was eventually kicked out of the box by Baker.

Vera escaped Remy's lore.

After this campaign, Villa are winless in four league games, five games without a win in all competitions, and have failed to score for more than 400 minutes.

The discussion of whether to let Jose take a free-kick was once again brought up by the fans.

Paul Lambert also thought seriously about the discussion among the fans, but finally failed to make up his mind.

For him, who has a conservative coaching personality, anything risky is well thought out.

Of course, there is also a reason that Jose never took the initiative to take a free kick.

…

Four days later, on February 27, at 10 p.m. local time.

In the second leg of the Europa League 1/16 finals, Napoli's home match against Villa officially began.

There are a lot of fans who follow this game.

Without exception, almost all fans are optimistic about Napoli finally qualifying.

After all, as Champions League-level players, they are now in the Europa League, which can be said to be a dimensionality reduction blow.

There weren't many changes to the starting line-ups of both sides.

For Villa, Baker started and Clarke was on the bench.

And the Naples side.

The starting goalkeeper was replaced by Liverpool veteran Reina, midfielder Pandev was given a start, and Hamsik was on the bench.

Napoli kick off first.

The midfield was fiercely contested, with Napoli narrowly ahead in the end, but Higuain's shot failed to threaten Jose.

9th minute.

Villa get a chance to hit back.

Quickly passed through the midfield, and in the blink of an eye, he advanced to the front of the opponent's penalty area.

Benteke crosses diagonally to the right side of the penalty area.

Abang Lajo took the lead and got the ball.

From 12 yards on the right side of the penalty area, Abonlaho faced the onrushing Reyna and chose to shoot into the far corner.

Unfortunately, the height was not high enough, and he was intercepted halfway by Reina.

Villa missed the lead.

…

In the 14th minute, Napoli played a pass in the Villa penalty area.

Insigne won the ball on the flank and passed it directly into the box, where the ball reached Higuain's feet.

Higuain had the ball with his back and was sandwiched between Vlaar and Baker and had no chance to turn and shoot.

In desperation, Higuain aimed at Insigne on his right.

Half-turned, with a left-footed pass, Higuain passed the ball to Insigne's feet in an unbelievable situation.

On the left side of the Villa penalty area, the unmarked Insigne took the ball to José and volleyed directly into the far corner.

The ball is fast and the angle is acceptable.

(End of chapter)