Napoli have changed their UEFA list for the second day of the Champions League championship phase, with coach Massimiliano Allegri inserting Brazilian striker Giovane in place of the injured Costantino Favasuli. The substitution takes place ahead of the match against Villarreal, which will be held at the Estadio de la Ceramica on 13 October. Favasuli, a former Hellas Verona player, suffered a second-degree injury to the rectus femoris in his right thigh during the Under-21 match against Armenia on 1 October, making him unavailable for the continental competition.
According to UEFA regulations, clubs participating in the Champions League can modify their lists to replace injured players, as long as the replacement takes place within the established deadlines. Allegri then confirmed that Giovane, who has already played for Napoli in the past, has been called up for the Spanish match. The Italian club plans to reintroduce Favasuli to the list as soon as his recovery is completed, before the next match against Manchester City, scheduled for November 24.
The official list of 19 players called up for the match against Villarreal includes key players such as Badiashile, Beukema, Contini, De Bruyne, Di Lorenzo, Gilmour, Hojlund, Lang, Lobotka, Lucca, Rafa Marin, McTominay, Meret, Milinkovic-Savic, Neres, Politano, Rrahmani and Spinazzola, as well as Giovane. The lineup reflects Allegri's desire to maintain a balance between solid defense and dynamic attack, with the presence of experienced players and young talents.
With the match scheduled for tomorrow, Napoli is preparing to challenge a competitive Villarreal, with the aim of consolidating their position in the championship phase. The club hopes to exploit Giovane's energy and the solidity of the defense to achieve a positive result. After this elimination, Napoli's interest will shift to the next match against Manchester City, where Favasuli's presence will once again be crucial to complete the squad.