Olivera returns to Napoli after groin injury with Uruguay, Frosinone in doubt

Napoli's injury list has grown again. Mathías Olivera has left Uruguay's training camp with a muscle injury to the groin, picked up in a training session in India.

It is the second muscle injury in a matter of days, after Favasuli, who early indications suggest will be out for around a month and a half. The list of unavailable players — already featuring Buongiorno, McTominay, Marianucci, Spinazzola and Alisson Santos — now includes a name that carries extra weight: Olivera is not a backup, he is the starting left-back.

The issue is that cover is thin in that position. Spinazzola, the other recognised left-back, had already missed the 2 October friendly against Avellino, working on an individual programme alongside Marianucci and the other absentees. With Badiashile limited to 10 minutes of playing time all season and Beukema yet to feature in five matchdays, head coach Allegri's defence risks running out of natural options on that flank.

Allegri is waiting on further tests to know whether Olivera will be available for Napoli-Frosinone, on Saturday 10 October at 20:45 CET at the Maradona. The doubt also extends to the Champions League trip to Villarreal on Tuesday 13 October — two matches in three days that the head coach may have to face without his first-choice left-back.

A pattern taking shape

What stands out is the frequency: another muscle injury, another player lost during an international break. In the space of a few days, the back line has gone from managing one isolated issue to facing a second on the same flank. It is not yet a squad in crisis, but the margin for further setbacks has become thin.