Schemes, opponent analysis, and tactical preparation inevitably take a back seat: for Napoli, once again, everything revolves around the infirmary. In view of the delicate away match in Bergamo againstAtalanta, Antonio Conte he is forced to take stock, between certainties reduced to a minimum and doubts that weigh like boulders.
The first certainty concerns Rrahmani's prolonged absence, hampered by a hamstring injury that will keep him out for at least two months. In his place, Juan Jesus will be playing alongside Buongiorno and Beukema in the three-man defense. Buongiorno himself is expected to make a significant leap in quality: the defense will also rely on him and the mistakes he made against Genoa need to be addressed.
The real issue, however, remains in midfield, where the name circled in red is that of Scott McTominayThe Scotsman has been battling a gluteal inflammation for weeks, which, after months of forced management, is now taking its toll. Twenty-six consecutive games as a key player have taken their toll, and his presence in Bergamo remains highly uncertain, with the real risk of the pain worsening. Conte is reflecting, aware that forcing it could mean losing him for longer.
Recent history tells of a match that's always open and never trivial. In the first leg, Napoli won 3-1 at the Maradona, while last season the Azzurri managed to win 3-2 in Bergamo after a heavy 3-0 defeat at home. These numbers confirm that the match against the Goddess is a tough one.
On the other side there is an Atalanta hungry for Europe, led by Raphael Palladino, determined to bounce back after the first leg's slip. Conte, however, looks at the standings and knows the margin for error is minimal: maintaining pace for the Champions League, closing in on Milan, and keeping Roma and Juventus at bay also depends on a difficult night like the one at the Gewiss Stadium, with tired players but with the obligation to not retreat.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
Analyzing an opponent is never easy, especially when there are injuries like Napoli's. Rrahmani and McTominay are key players, and their absence will be felt. I hope Juan Jesus and Buongiorno can perform well together, but there's a lot of pressure on them.