Napoli returns from their Champions League match against Villarreal with a defeat and, for the first time this season, with a new injury weighing on their attacking department. Brazilian midfielder David Neres, already recovering from a muscle problem, was forced to stop in the infirmary after sustaining damage to his right thigh during the Spanish clash.
According to the club's medical bulletin, published on the official website, Neres suffered a "muscle strain" during the match. The instrumental tests, carried out at the Pineta Grande hospital, highlighted a low-grade lesion of the semimembranosus muscle of the right thigh. The player has already started the rehabilitation process and, according to the instructions of coach Massimiliano Allegri, will have to remain off the pitch for around three weeks.
The loss of Neres adds to Napoli's already numerous absences. The manager will face the challenge of replacing a key player at a time when the club is already under pressure to perform in the league and Champions League. Neres will not be able to participate in the next matches against Venezia, Bodo/Glimt, Roma and Monza, all scheduled for the next few weeks. Furthermore, his absence could affect the preparation for the November match against Juventus at the San Paolo Stadium, as well as for the subsequent matches against Porto and Lazio, before the international break.
Allegri stated that, despite the injury, the midfielder is already recovering and that the team will have to evaluate his availability for future matches. The club also underlined the importance of carefully monitoring his condition before reinstating him on the pitch, especially in view of the European competitions and the final phase of the championship. With the team in an injury emergency phase, human resources management and tactical planning will be crucial to maintaining Napoli's competitiveness in the coming weeks.