Napoli's difficulties may increase against Barcelona in the Champions League, after Italian newspapers confirmed that goalkeeper Alex Meret will be absent from the field for a long period due to injury.
Meret suffered the injury during Monza's last match in the first round, which ended in a scoreless draw.
Napoli announced that Meret is suffering from a left thigh injury without specifying the duration of his absence, while the media indicate that his absence will last at best for a month at the very least.
Due to the vague duration of his absence, Napoli faces the risk of losing its main goalkeeper and one of its most important pillars in the last two years, when facing Barcelona in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League, scheduled for next February 21.
Coach Walter Mazzarri will temporarily rely on substitute goalkeeper Pierluigi Giulini, who recently returned from injury, which raises concerns about his ability to save the team in the difficult period ahead.
Napoli will play matches in the Italian League, in addition to participating in the Italian Super Cup scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia, before completing its campaign in the Champions League by facing Barcelona.
In general, Napoli faces a difficult season after last season, during which it won the Serie A title, as it occupies eighth place in the league with only 28 points, and bid farewell to the Italian Cup with a heavy defeat from Frosinone 4-0.
Opmerkingen