Napoli face midfield crisis after Lobotka injury, here’s what could happen | OneFootball

Napoli faces another setback ahead of the big match against Juventus, scheduled for Sunday evening at the Maradona. Antonio Conte risks facing the challenge without a key midfield player, Stanislav Lobotka, who has been sidelined by a new muscle injury.

Napoli, total emergency in midfield: Lobotka injured too

Napoli, total emergency in midfield after Lobotka's injury. The scenario

According to the club's official statement: “Stanislav Lobotka, during yesterday's pre-match activation, suffered a muscle strain in the posterior tibial of his left leg. The Azzurri player has already started the rehabilitation process.”

This is a serious issue, especially considering that it is not the first time the Slovak has been sidelined this season. Lobotka had already missed four matches between the league and the Champions League due to an adductor injury.

midfield emergency

With Lobotka unavailable, Conte's options in the midfield are drastically reduced. Currently, Elmas remains the only available player to partner with McTominay, although the possibility of Antonio Vergara is emerging after his impressive performance last night in the Cup. This list of absentees already includes other important names: De Bruyne, Anguissa, and Gilmour.

This situation presents the Napoli coach with a real tactical emergency: finding valid alternatives and reorganizing the midfield becomes crucial to face Juventus, a decisive challenge for the Azzurri's season.

prospects and recovery

The club has already initiated the rehabilitation process for Lobotka, but the recovery time is still unclear. The Slovak's presence against the Bianconeri appears very doubtful, and managing the unavailable players will be crucial for Conte's formation choices.

Napoli must therefore contend with a depleted midfield in a match that could have a decisive impact on the race for the top of Serie A.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.