How Di Lorenzo’s red card changes Conte’s choices for Pisa in Serie A | OneFootball

Napoli will be back in Serie A action on Monday evening after their Champions League opener against Manchester City on Thursday, and reports in Italy claim that the early red card shown to Giovanni Di Lorenzo will change a number of Antonio Conte’s plans for the upcoming test against Pisa.

Napoli fell to a 2-0 defeat away against Manchester City at the beginning of their Champions League campaign on Thursday evening, in a game that was largely conditioned by the red card shown to Di Lorenzo after just 20 minutes.

If there is a silver lining to be had from Di Lorenzo’s red card, it is that he will be rested and available to play again against Pisa in Serie A on Monday evening.

Di Lorenzo and De Bruyne set to go again after early Man City exits

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Erling Haaland of Manchester City is fouled by Giovanni Di Lorenzo of Napoli resulting in a red card during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The same is also true for Kevin De Bruyne, who was brought off shortly after Di Lorenzo’s red card to make way for another defender in Mathias Olivera.

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Belgian is now expected to start again against Pisa on Monday.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli interacts with teammates on the bench after being substituted during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Otherwise, there could be a fair amount of rotation from Antonio Conte heading into the Serie A clash at the end of this weekend.

There could be a change between the sticks, with Alex Meret back and in line to replace Vanja Milinkovic-Savic against Pisa. Alessandro Buongiorno, who had surgery over the summer, could be given a rest and be replaced by Juan Jesus. Olivera could also start over Leonardo Spinazzola at left-back.

Elsewhere, Billy Gilmour could come into the starting XI in place of Stanislav Lobotka, while Lorenzo Lucca could start at centre-forward in place of Rasmus Hojlund.