Why must the football gods make me suffer?
Alessandro Buongiorno is injured. Christmas is ruined.
Napoli now finds themselves without their Rolls Royce centreback for some crucial games over the festive period in what seems to be a punishment from the holy rulers of the beautiful game. It may even be that he isn’t back for the match versus Juventus. And that means we potentially need to watch Juan Jesus fill in as deputy and Amir Rahmani step up as leading man at the back, which are two things that are borderline abusive for Napoli fans and even neutral watchers. I know Inter and Atalanta's fans are rubbing their hands together, though, because this damaging blow to Napoli for this festive period means a potentially catastrophic hit to their Scudetto hopes.
I complain a lot about football, to be honest. How can I not? I’m a born Newcastle fan who later adopted Napoli as his second team. Two teams that are notoriously up and down in their performances from season to season. Buongiorno has missed one league game for Napoli this season, which was the 3-0 loss to Hellas Verona in the opening game which, as time goes on, looks increasingly worse given how bad Verona have been since. To have him missing for a crucial mid-season period is devastating. It is even worse when Juan Jesus is his replacement.
Despite my worry, my trust must lie in Antonio Conte to make it work. Come up with an alternative. Something. Because the starting XI for the next few games that I am envisioning is filling me with great angst. Especially as Kvicha Kvaratskhelia is already injured, too. Napoli are now hindered at the back and in attack and relying on two Brazilians, Juan Jesus and David Neres to fill in. The difference? One of them is actually really good.
The Scudetto race this season is thrilling, for sure. Inter have just decimated Lazio, the same Lazio side who just came to the Stadio Maradona and went home with all three points. Atalanta are steamrollering anyone in their way as Gian Piero Gasperini looks to win his and the club’s first title. Napoli, with two injuries to two big players, must be worried.
And I know Antonio Conte will play it down. He’ll say the aim wasn’t to win the Scudetto. The club aren’t in a position to win it. But it’s Antonio Conte we’re talking about. Winning league titles first time of asking is what he does. Regardless if Napoli win it, this season has been a massive improvement on last season’s struggles so fans can’t grumble too much. But it’d be nice to win a 4th one, right?
Friday, December 20th
Verona v Milan
Saturday, December 21st
Torino v Bologna
Genoa v Napoli
Lecce v Lazio
Sunday, December 22nd
Roma v Parma
Venezia v Cagliari
Atalanta v Empoli
Monza v Juventus
Monday, December 23rd
Fiorentina v Udinese
Inter v Como
*Serie B fixtures coming to the newsletter soon…*
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