Napoli's Goal Drought Threatens Fiorentina Test

Good evening, Napoli supporters, this is Napoli Tonight for Wednesday 16 September.

Twelve thirty CET on Sunday, at the Franchi. That kick-off time is already shaping the week, and it is not the only sign of how much this trip to Fiorentina matters.

Start with the numbers that should worry Allegri. Napoli have scored six goals in five games this season, across the four league matches and the Champions League night at Arsenal, and the midfield have matched the forwards goal for goal. Rasmus Højlund is the only forward to have scored more than once, with two, both from individual moments rather than service from teammates. Noa Lang and Alisson Santos have no goals and no assists between them this season. Giovane, signed from Verona in January for €20m, has yet to register either, and is still working through the after-effects of groin surgery. David Neres is scoring far less often than he did in the Eredivisie. Only Matteo Politano is delivering in front of goal with any consistency. Our view: Allegri cannot keep leaning on Højlund alone, and corto muso, grinding out one-goal wins, will not be enough against a Fiorentina side set up to defend deep.

The league table carries the same warning from another angle. Roma and Inter are level at the top after four rounds, with Napoli, tenth, already six points off them. Il Corriere dello Sport calls it a breakaway, and on the facts, that's a fair word, not exaggeration.

Ahead of Sunday, Allegri looks ready to change things. Noa Lang, who impressed off the bench against Bologna, is now favoured to start ahead of Vergara. Scott McTominay remains sidelined after his heart procedure, and talks over a new contract have stalled, with Real Madrid watching. Radio Napoli Centrale's Francesco Repice warned that Fiorentina will sit back and counter, and that Napoli must stay patient rather than force it. Napoli's three hundred away tickets for the Franchi have already sold out.

That's Napoli Tonight for tonight. Every story, in full, at arenarete dot com slash napoli slash e n. Back tomorrow evening at eight o'clock CET.