Press review: papers blame referee for Juventus loss, but De Bruyne injury is the real worry

The papers on Monday 2 November are dominated by the referee. That is understandable: it is the easiest thing to write about after a defeat. But the heavier news for Napoli is in the treatment room, two days before a Champions League match.

Corriere dello Sport opens on a different story, and its headline matters more for the week ahead: "De Bruyne, ankle sprain: tests on Monday, Porto appearance in doubt". The paper writes that the Belgian left the Stadium with a sprain and that Monday's tests will estimate his recovery time. There is no diagnosis yet, and we will not invent one.

DAZN, which broadcast the game, offers pre-match and interview material. Before kick-off, Manna asked for consistency and said "Lucca must show every day that he deserves the shirt". Politano spoke about Højlund's absence, the chance for Lucca and the direct clash in the table. On the other side, Boga, who scored the first goal, described the training camp as the place where Juventus talked a lot. Spalletti, also speaking to DAZN, said Napoli are strong and that his side also had to defend. Put together, these voices describe a Juventus who knew exactly what they needed and a Napoli asking a striker for answers.

There are no post-match comments in the material we have from Landucci, who was on the bench because Allegri was suspended, or from Allegri himself. The only Napoli words available are from before kick-off.

Our view

Gazzetta picks up on one incident, but a headline about the referee cannot become the only explanation for a defeat in which Napoli also lost because they were down to ten men from the 75th minute, with Marianucci sent off. The risk is consoling the fanbase instead of explaining what went wrong. We want answers from a team heading to Porto with a defence that has been under scrutiny all week and a growing injury list.

Corriere dello Sport identifies the news that really matters. But nobody has yet said, by name, why Napoli in Turin looked more concerned with not losing than with winning. That question is waiting for an answer from Allegri, and in Monday's papers there isn't one.