It’s written Qarabag, but it’s read as a decisive crossroads. Napoli faces tonight (kick-off at 21:00, referee Marciniak, the controversial referee in the match against Milan in the Champions League in 2023) the Azerbaijani team that deserves consideration and respect. The numbers say it. Qarabag has seven points in the standings, three more than Napoli, which is looking for a victory to relaunch itself. Antonio Conte does not hide: ‘This challenge will direct our future in the Champions League, and we want to do well.’ There is also an additional reason: today is the fifth anniversary of Maradona’s passing, and the goal is ‘to dedicate a victory to him – continues the Napoli coach – we know well how important he is for the fans and the city.’ The magic word, of course, is continuity: the 3-1 against Atalanta must not become an isolated case. ‘We are missing high-level players like Anguissa, De Bruyne, Lukaku, but also Meret himself. As a coach, I can control certain things, like the work and preparation of the match, but not others, and I am referring to the players available.’ Napoli will also be missing Gilmour and Spinazzola: the latter will try to recover for Roma, but there are no certainties about the timing. Both have inflammation in the adductors: ‘I would like the doctors to talk about it more appropriately. I don’t know when they will return. Certainly, Lukaku will not be in Rome; he still needs to work a bit. His presence is fundamental anyway. We are few, and everyone must help us as they can. Romelu has charisma in the locker room, and that counts a lot.’ Napoli is united, as Alessandro Buongiorno also reiterated: ‘We never lost faith in our coach, and the same goes for him. We just had to find ourselves again after Bologna and recover energy, especially mentally.’ Napoli confirms the 3-4-2-1. ‘The novelty,’ says Conte, ‘is not so much the three-man defense, but the two-man midfield. We have many absentees, and I have to keep at least one on the bench. With Atalanta, it was Elmas.’ It is likely to be the same tonight. Conte has only one doubt on the left between Gutierrez and Olivera. In front, Politano challenges one between Neres and Lang, who were decisive against Atalanta. The goal is to repeat. Maradona (which will not be full) awaits a new victory.
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