Rrahmani has a fever and is a doubt for Napoli vs Roma
The numbers from recent months show what Napoli lose without their number 13. With him the defence concedes less than half as many goals.
Rrahmani has a fever and could miss Napoli vs Roma at 18:00 CET (17:00 UK, 12:00 ET) on Saturday 24 October. The centre-back was already a doubt with fatigue when the fever struck on Friday 23 October, and it could leave him weakened. A lot depends on how Friday goes. If the fever drops, he can train on Saturday and be available to Allegri. The word from the training centre is cautious optimism.
The numbers show how much he matters. Over the last few months Napoli have conceded 0.69-0.72 goals a game on average with Rrahmani on the pitch, and about 1.7 without him. He sets the timing for the back line. When he is missing, the line steps up at the wrong moment and opponents find space for balls through the middle.
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He is no saviour, though. He started against Bodø/Glimt on Tuesday, and Napoli still conceded three at the Maradona. Allegri admitted as much himself: "When we are in our own half we are fragile." Roma arrive third on 17 points, seven ahead of Napoli, and have Malen back. The club has made this the second checkpoint on the coach's future. A defence already without Buongiorno cannot afford to lose the man who organises it as well.
Source: AreaNapoli
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