Napoli see break as boost: key players back after Bologna loss | OneFootball

"I'm worried, there's not much to say." With these words, Antonio Conte commented on the 2-0 defeat against Bologna, highlighting the seriousness of the situation after a complex week.

Napoli, the break as an ally: regain the stars to restart after the KO against Bologna

Napoli, after two goalless draws against Como and Eintracht, suffered their fifth defeat of the season, three of which were in the league. This is a concerning trend compared to last year, when the total defeats were four, sounding an alarm for the Salento coach.

The attack in crisis: Hojlund, Lucca, and Lukaku absent or struggling

The Azzurri team is suffering especially in the offensive phase. Excluding the match against Inter, Napoli has scored only one goal in the four subsequent games, that of Anguissa against Lecce. The lack of reference points in attack is significant: Hojlund is struggling to regain form after the injury, Lucca has yet to justify the summer investment, and Lukaku, the iconic striker of the last championship, is still absent.

Besides the forwards, even the offensive wingers are not impacting as in past seasons, making an immediate relaunch necessary upon returning from the break.

Midfield in trouble: McTominay and Anguissa under scrutiny

The midfield, which has grown the most in recent years, is showing signs of crisis. McTominay, a far cry from the player admired last season, is struggling to insert himself between the lines. The absence of De Bruyne had already forced him to move to ensure tactical balance, but now his presence in the goal area is scarce. Anguissa also appears under par, and the midfielders' inability to make an impact is weighing on all the team's performances.

Defense between lights and shadows: Milinkovic-Savic the only constant

On the defensive level, the only constant element is Milinkovic-Savic, who contributed to the 4 points obtained against Lecce and Como thanks to decisive saves and crucial interventions. However, against Bologna, he was unable to prevent the goal conceded. Rrahmani and Buongiorno continue to struggle, while Beukema lacks consistency, and Marianucci – except for Milan – has never played. The dual competition season is highlighting Napoli's physical and mental limits, which are paying the price for the effort required by Serie A and European cups.

The break as an opportunity: the calendar does not smile

The international break becomes a valuable opportunity to recover the injured and regain the stars. However, the post-break return looks challenging: within a few days, Napoli will have to face Atalanta, Roma, and Juventus, three particularly tricky challenges to test the team's real endurance. Conte and the technical staff will have to work intensely to bring the team back to full strength and reverse the negative trend.

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