Napoli go back to 4-3-3 at Monza as Lucca stays on the bench

Napoli are expected to line up in their usual 4-3-3 at Monza. The back three that was being discussed until the morning of the match is off.

The likely XI: Milinković-Savić; Marianucci, Rrahmani, Marín, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Højlund, Giovane. We had already reported that Rrahmani and Lobotka would return and De Bruyne would be rested. All of that is confirmed. Up front, Højlund starts ahead of Lucca and Giovane ahead of Lang.

Lucca is still waiting

Højlund's selection needs explaining. He has 2 goals and has not scored since 5 September. On the eve of the game Allegri defended him and said Lucca "will definitely get chances to play".

"He had three chances and did well"

If there was ever a game to give Lucca one of those chances, it is this one. It comes four days after Roma and four days before Juventus, and Napoli play in Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday 4 November. If Lucca does not start here either, Allegri's words count for little. The club is already prepared to let him go in January, probably on loan.

Our concern is simple. Lucca never gets the coach's trust and Højlund never loses it. So far, neither approach has produced goals.

The real change is at the back

Badiashile has a moderate tear in his right rectus femoris. Spinazzola has a low-grade tear in his right hamstring. Buongiorno has had knee surgery on his meniscus and is out until January. That leaves Marianucci filling in at right-back, with a different goalkeeper behind him.

Napoli have conceded 17 goals in 11 games across Serie A and the Champions League. On Saturday against Roma they went from 2-0 up in the 48th minute to 3-3 in the 89th. The strongest reason for optimism is Rrahmani. With him on the pitch Napoli concede between 0.69 and 0.72 goals a game; without him, around 1.7. But the rest of the back four is changing in the very places where we used to feel safest.

Landucci will be in the dugout because Allegri is serving the first game of a two-match ban. The 4-3-3 is still Allegri's decision, and he should answer for these choices.

Juric's Monza are 15th with 7 points and have lost 5 of their 8 games. At this stage the table matters less than the record of a side that struggles to hold on to a lead. Even so, the fans would not forgive a slip against this Monza.

Napoli are tenth with 11 points after eight rounds, their worst start since 2009-10. Como, in fourth, have 20. Allegri will also miss the trip to Juventus in Turin on Sunday 1 November. Before that come these 90 minutes, with a new goalkeeper, a new right-back and Højlund kept in the side.