Porto lose William Gomes for Napoli as Pietuszewski awaits fitness test

William Gomes will miss Porto's Champions League game against Napoli. The winger sat out the last full training session as well, and at his press conference Francesco Farioli effectively ruled him out. His recovery will not be quick enough for the game at the Estádio do Dragão on Wednesday 4 November, kick-off 21:00 CET (20:00 UK, 15:00 ET).

The other doubt is Oskar Pietuszewski. The Polish striker did only limited, partial work on the pitch, and whether he plays depends entirely on a final fitness test. Farioli is waiting on the medical staff and hopes to have him at least on the bench. The game matters a great deal to Porto, who have lost all three of their Champions League matches so far.

Their injury list is not as bad as ours

Before anyone takes comfort from this, it should be said straight away: losing Gomes does not make Porto weaker than the Napoli side that will take the field on Wednesday. Porto have won 10 out of 10 in the league, with 25 goals scored and 4 conceded. On Saturday they beat Estoril 4-0, with goals from Froholdt, Sainz, André Silva and Veiga. This is a team that scores through lots of different players. One winger fewer takes away an option, not the backbone.

Napoli travel to Porto without Lobotka, Neres, Badiashile, Spinazzola, Buongiorno, Favasuli and Alisson Santos. Di Lorenzo and Olivera have stayed in Naples, and Marianucci is not in the UEFA squad list. Allegri has no recognised full-back and only three centre-backs to pick from: Beukema, Rrahmani and Rafa Marín. Comparing the two treatment rooms would just be a way of cheering ourselves up, and we are not in the mood for it.

If the news tells us anything, it is something else. Farioli will have fewer options out wide, which is exactly where Napoli are most exposed. That is where we will find out whether Allegri has prepared a game to play or just a game to contain.

At the Allianz Stadium against Juventus, Napoli finished with one shot on target out of 7 and conceded both goals between the 70th and 87th minutes. After that, the fanbase will not put up with another night spent waiting.

In the Champions League Napoli are 22nd, with 3 points from three games. Those points came from the 4-3 win over Bodø/Glimt, after the 0-1 against Arsenal and the 3-1 at Villarreal. Porto have no points and need to get off the mark at home. Sainz has already promised their supporters "something to cheer about".

«qualcosa per cui esultare»

With or without Pietuszewski, Napoli have to show on Wednesday that they can take control of a game in Europe. That is the stage where this city does not forgive.