Napoli lose five players around Juventus defeat with Porto next

Højlund and Milinković-Savić dropped out minutes before kick-off in Turin, then Di Lorenzo, De Bruyne and Olivera went off at half-time. Allegri has to rebuild the side before Wednesday's Champions League trip.

by Gennaro SanninoMonday 2 November, 19:13 CET· 16 hours ago

Torino costa cinque stop: Hojlund e Milinković-Savić prima del via, poi Di Lorenzo, De Bruyne e Olivera all'intervallo — Grafica Arena Napoli

The 2-0 defeat to Juventus at the Allianz Stadium cost Napoli more than the points. They stay on 14, with Lazio on 28. They also came home with five new absences, picked up before and during the game, on top of the injuries already known.

The first blow came minutes before kick-off. Højlund was out with flu, so Lucca started up front. He has not scored this season. Milinković-Savić was also ruled out with muscle fatigue. Both absences were announced too late to plan anything else.

Three off at half-time

Then came the break. Di Lorenzo, the captain, was replaced at the start of the second half with an adductor problem. De Bruyne stayed in the dressing room with a sprained ankle. Olivera went off with a muscle problem.

Napoli lost three players at once, and at that point the game was still alive. Alajbegovic scored on 70 minutes, Marianucci was sent off on 75 and Boga added the second on 87.

A squad that cannot hold up

This is a squad that is not holding up. On the eve of the game, Allegri had promised players coming back.

"After the break we will get Spinazzola, Neres and Favasuli back. Alisson is perhaps further behind still."

Two days later the list has grown, and an awkward question follows: who is responsible for a team that loses players every match? The full-backs are the clearest problem. Di Lorenzo and Olivera are staying in Naples and will not travel to Porto. Spinazzola and Favasuli were already missing.

The injuries do not explain everything, though. Napoli had one shot on target in Turin. Juventus outshot them 18 to 7. None of that comes down to De Bruyne's ankle. Depending on how you see it, the injury crisis is either a fair reason or a handy excuse for Allegri. Either way it leaves him with one job: redesign the team around the players he has left.

Porto, then Lazio

Farioli's Porto have won all ten of their league games, and on Sunday 1 November they beat Estoril 4-0. Napoli go to the Dragão (Porto's stadium) on Wednesday 4 November, kick-off 21:00 CET (20:00 UK, 15:00 ET). They are 22nd in the Champions League table with 3 points, they will be without their captain, and the defence has to be rebuilt.

After that comes Lazio at the Maradona on Sunday 8 November at 12:30 CET (11:30 UK, 06:30 ET). Allegri will be back on the bench and Marianucci will be suspended.