Napoli doubts over Gilmour, Spinazzola for Bologna, Elmas, Gutierrez to start | OneFootball

Repubblica praises the new defensive solidity with the Buongiorno-Rrahmani duo: three consecutive clean sheets give Conte confidence

Napoli, Gilmour and Spinazzola remain doubtful for Bologna: Elmas and Gutierrez likely to be confirmed

The next few hours will be decisive to understand whether Billy Gilmour and Leonardo Spinazzola will recover in time for Bologna-Napoli, scheduled for Sunday at 3 PM at the Dall’Ara. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, hopes of seeing the two Napoli players on the pitch are minimal, with Antonio Conte ready to confirm Eljif Elmas and Gutierrez in the starting lineup.

Gilmour and Spinazzola still sidelined: Conte considers new solutions

Training sessions will begin today at Castel Volturno, but the situation leaves little room for maneuver for the coach. La Gazzetta explains that Gilmour and Spinazzola have not yet fully recovered from their respective physical problems and that it will be difficult to see them back on the field already against the Rossoblù.

Conte, who will have to deal with yet another midweek round behind him, could opt for slight rotation, taking advantage of the squad’s depth. Politano’s condition is also being monitored, as he appeared fatigued against Eintracht: if he is unavailable, Neres is ready to start on the right wing.

On the left, however, Elmas seems destined for another confirmation, with Lang eager to regain playing time. In midfield, Gutierrez has convinced Conte with his intensity and tactical discipline, thus earning another chance from the first minute.

Repubblica: “Napoli, defense locked down with Buongiorno and Rrahmani”

While attention remains high on the injury front, Repubblica Napoli – in a feature by Pasquale Tina – highlights the most reassuring aspect for Conte: the regained defensive solidity.

The numbers speak for themselves: three consecutive clean sheets between Serie A and Champions League (Lecce, Como, Eintracht Frankfurt). A trend that brings Napoli back to last season’s levels, when defensive compactness was one of the team’s trademarks.

According to the newspaper, the main credit goes to the Buongiorno-Rrahmani partnership, back as starters and now perfectly synchronized in their movements. A mix of physicality, leadership, and focus, which has allowed Napoli to regain balance even during difficult moments in front of goal.

Conte relies on the defense to restart from Bologna

The goalless draw against Eintracht didn’t help the European standings (Napoli stuck at 4 points), but it did restore confidence in the defensive phase. Conte, who after the match spoke about the need to “better manage recovery and physical preparation,” can at least smile at the regained defensive compactness.

In Bologna, the coach will once again rely on the defensive block composed of Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, and Gutierrez, with the aim of confirming the positive trend and bringing home precious points before the break.

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