Squad Updates and Injury Returns
SSC Napoli is set to face Venezia with a mixed bag of team news. On the positive side, several key players have returned to full training and are available for selection. Frank Anguissa, Mathías Olivera, and Alisson Santos are all back in contention, providing a much-needed boost to the squad depth [1]. Their return could offer manager Max Allegri more options as he looks to navigate a challenging period for the club. However, Napoli will be without David Neres, who suffered a muscle problem and is sidelined for the match against Venezia [1]. Long-term absentees Antonio Vergara and Costantino Favasuli remain out until late November, with Favasuli also having been removed from the UEFA squad list due to his injury [1]. In terms of potential lineup changes, Lorenzo Lucca is reportedly pushing for a starting spot up front, potentially ahead of Rasmus Højlund [1]. Kevin De Bruyne, despite starting in the recent Champions League match, is considered likely to begin on the bench against Venezia [1].
Recent Form and Tactical Concerns
Napoli’s recent performances have been a cause for concern, with the club enduring its worst start to a season in 17 years under Massimiliano Allegri [2]. The team has registered four losses and three wins from their first eight competitive games, indicating a significant dip in form. This poor run includes a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Villarreal in the Champions League, where Napoli squandered a winning position due to defensive errors and a lack of solidity [3]. During that match, there were reported tensions between Allegri and Kevin De Bruyne regarding tactical instructions, with Allegri reportedly wanting Scott McTominay to push further forward [3]. The tactical switch to a three-man defence in that game also left Napoli vulnerable to counter-attacks, with Matteo Politano making a defensive error leading to Villarreal’s equalizer and Rafa Marin being isolated for their second goal [3]. Despite these issues, Amir Rrahmani did manage to score for Napoli in that fixture [3]. Scott McTominay, who started against Villarreal, is reportedly of interest to Real Madrid, though Napoli are in contract extension talks with him [4].
What it means
Napoli currently sits in 8th position in Serie A with 10 points from six games, reflecting a mixed start to their domestic campaign (W3 D1 L2, GF 10 GA 6). Their recent form shows a win against Frosinone (3-0) and Bologna (1-0), but also a draw against Fiorentina (1-1) and losses to Villarreal (1-3 in UCL) and Arsenal (0-1 in UCL). This inconsistency highlights the challenges the team is facing across competitions. The upcoming fixture against Venezia on October 17th presents an opportunity for Napoli to improve their league standing and build some much-needed momentum. The site’s forecast for this match will be locked 24 hours before kick-off, indicating the anticipation surrounding whether Napoli can secure a crucial away victory and begin to climb the Serie A table.
Sources
- Football Italia: Napoli team news: David Neres suffers injury, set to miss Venezia clash football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Allegri’s Napoli suffer worst start in 17 years as tensions rise football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Allegri fresh De Bruyne tension after Napoli crumble 3-1 with Villarreal football-italia.net ↩
- BBC Sport: Napoli back McTominay to stay amid Real links - gossip bbc.co.uk ↩
