Napoli hit by huge injury crisis ahead of Chelsea clash

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Evening Standard

·27 January 2026

Napoli hit by huge injury crisis ahead of Chelsea clash

One familiar face back in the fold as Blues visit Naples but Kevin de Bruyne among the casualties

Antonio Conte’s Napoli is in the midst of a fierce injury crisis, with seven first-team players set to miss Wednesday’s Champions League match against Chelsea.

Napoli clinched a historic Scudetto last season, winning Italy’s top honour for just the second time in the last 35 years, but their title defence has been rocky.

An injury-plagued campaign has seen them slip to fourth in Serie A, and they are staring elimination from the Champions League in the face as they head into the final league phase matchday sat 25th.

Conte, though, has not had his best tools at his disposal for much of the campaign, though, and has lost yet more players in the lead-up to Chelsea’s visit.

Napoli confirmed on Monday that winger David Neres has undergone successful surgery on an ankle injury which will leave him sidelined until April, while first-choice goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is expected to miss out with a thigh strain.

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Injury doubt: Vanja Milinkovic-Savic

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Milinkovic-Savic’s backup, Alex Meret, also missed long stretches of this campaign with a fractured foot and a subsequent shoulder injury, but has recently come back into the fold, playing 90 minutes of Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Juventus.

Their injuries only add to the already considerable queue outside the physio’s office.

Also ruled out for Chelsea’s visit are winger Matteo Politano and centre-back Amir Rrahmani, both of whom have suffered thigh injuries. Cameroon’s Frank Anguissa will also miss out with a hamstring injury, in a blow to Conte’s midfield options.

Former Chelsea star Billy Gilmour, who moved to Napoli in 2024, will be denied a reunion with the club whose academy he graduated from. The Scotland international underwent surgery on a groin injury in November and remains in rehab.

Sidelined: Billy Gilmour

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Kevin De Bruyne has suffered a similar fate since leaving Manchester City. He underwent surgery on a torn hamstring in October and is yet to return to the pitch.

It is not all bad news for Conte, though - there has been a high-profile returnee in recent weeks.

Romelu Lukaku suffered a severe hamstring tear in a pre-season defeat of Olympiacos, but five months later has finally returned to first-team action.

After playing and scoring in a behind-closed-doors friendly against AC Savoia of Serie D last week, he made an 11-minute cameo in the Juventus defeat and could return to haunt his former club as Chelsea visit Naples.