Napoli: Conte and Lukaku reunited, Belgian debuts in Riyadh | OneFootball

There’s very little time left before the Italian Super Cup semifinal between Napoli and Milan in Riyadh, and Antonio Conte can count on a highly anticipated return: Romelu Lukaku.

Napoli, Conte welcomes back Lukaku: the Belgian gets his first taste of the pitch in Riyadh

Four months after the injury he suffered against Olympiakos, the Belgian striker is back among the squad, ready to gradually regain his confidence on the field, without rushing his recovery.

Gradual return for Lukaku

Conte will manage his striker’s return with caution: against Milan, he’s not expected to play the full 90 minutes, but he will be a valuable asset in the locker room and a possible tactical weapon at key moments of the match. The goal is clear: to recover playing time and confidence without risking setbacks, giving Lukaku the chance to become a protagonist again, step by step.

Absences and lineup choices

Alongside Lukaku, the recovered Lobotka and Gutierrez will also be among the squad, having already played in the last match against Udinese. Still unavailable are the long-term absentees Meret, Anguissa, and De Bruyne, with their return still far off, forcing Conte to reshuffle the midfield with the options at his disposal.

The lineup against Milan could mirror the 3-4-3 already seen at the Bluenergy Stadium, with just one change: Lobotka in midfield instead of Elmas, alongside McTominay, with Di Lorenzo and Spinazzola on the wings. Up front, the trio of Neres, Hojlund, and Lang is confirmed, tasked with reversing the recent negative away streak.

The goal: breaking the away curse

Napoli must address the problem of struggling away from the Maradona. Riyadh represents an important test: reaching the semifinal, carefully managing the recovery of key players, and returning to Italy with a trophy could give a significant boost to the Azzurri’s season. Lukaku will be the symbol of this journey, providing both technical leadership and moral support to the squad.

With the Belgian ready to return to the pitch and Conte set to manage the team’s energy, Napoli aims to start the Super Cup on the right foot, erase the two consecutive defeats, and reignite their ambitions for the season.

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