Napoli suffered their initial Serie A loss of the season, falling 2-1 to AC Milan on Sunday night. This defeat has plunged them into a defensive selection crisis ahead of their crucial Champions League fixture against Sporting CP mid-week.
Napoli Left With Make-Shift Defence After Milan Loss
In Sunday evening`s encounter at San Siro, Napoli succumbed to a 2-1 loss against Milan, who found the net through Christian Pulisic and Alexis Saelemaekers. This outcome leaves Milan, Napoli, and Roma in a three-way tie at the top of the table.
Manager Antonio Conte and his squad must swiftly recover and reorganize, as they prepare to welcome Sporting CP for their Champions League clash on Wednesday night.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that summer acquisition Sam Beukema is currently the sole Napoli defender assured of a starting spot.
Key defenders Alessandro Buongiorno and Amir Rrahmani are sidelined due to injuries. Furthermore, captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo is suspended, having received a first-half red card in their previous Champions League outing against Manchester City.
Luca Marianucci, who featured in Sunday`s match against Milan, is ineligible for the Champions League as he is not registered in the club`s squad list for the competition.
Adding to the defensive woes, uncertainty surrounds the fitness of Leonardo Spinazzola and Mathias Olivera, with doubts about their availability for Wednesday`s encounter with Sporting.
However, La Gazzetta dello Sport indicates some optimism regarding Spinazzola`s recovery, suggesting he might be pressed into an unfamiliar right-back role if he proves fit.
With limited choices, Beukema is expected to partner Juan Jesus in central defense. Should Olivera remain unavailable, Miguel Gutierrez is poised to retain his position at left-back.
