Napoli Secures Victory Against Qarabag Amid Injury Concerns

After suffering a heavy 6-2 defeat to PSV and managing a goalless draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, Napoli found their winning form in the Champions League by defeating Azerbaijani giants Qarabag 2-0 on Tuesday. The outcome was marked by a 65th-minute goal from last season’s standout player, Scott McTominay, followed by an own goal from Marko Jankovic seven minutes later, which secured Napoli’s ascent to 18th place in the continental rankings. However, head coach Antonio Conte faced challenges in fielding his strongest lineup, as he had to rely on two goalkeepers and two young players on the bench.

Napoli was without six key players against Qarabag, including stars Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Leonardo Spinazzola. While Conte expressed satisfaction with the victory, he remained cautious regarding the ongoing injury issues affecting the squad.

In his remarks to reporters, Conte stated: “Tomorrow we’ll savor the win, but then we’ll need to refocus because we have Roma on Sunday. Napoli was not defeated; it’s not a matter of being alive or not, but rather about consistently working hard. Games can swing in either direction, but we must always give our all. We are currently experiencing significant challenges with player availability; we had seven players on the bench, including two goalkeepers and two young talents, Ambrosino and Vergara.

“Since the beginning of the year, we have faced a tough period. The situation requires that we adapt our strategies whenever we lack players on the pitch. If we don’t have sufficient personnel, we must explore alternative solutions, often relying on the same players, which increases the associated risks. Nonetheless, we are progressing; we’ve played two excellent matches. Let’s not underestimate Qarabag’s results; there are no easy opponents in the Champions League, and I was confident that maintaining this pace would lead us through the challenge.”

Injury woes continue, as Miguel Gutierrez suffered an injury just a day before the Qarabag match. However, Conte is hopeful that Spinazzola will return on Friday. Whether he will be available for Sunday’s crucial encounter against Serie A leaders Roma remains uncertain, yet the return of any of the sidelined players is a positive development for the seasoned coach.

Conte elaborated, “Often, judgments are made based on match results, but since the year began, we have been grappling with numerous player absences. I can manage some situations, but I cannot control an injury like Gutierrez sustained during training. It’s unfortunate because discussions of a crisis arise without a full understanding of our challenges. The players are exceptional; their accountability has grown tremendously, as many matches await us in an incomplete squad. We hope to have Spinazzola available on Thursday, providing us with another option in lieu of Gutierrez.”

A victory over Roma could allow Napoli to reclaim the top spot in Serie A, contingent upon AC Milan’s performance against Lazio on Saturday evening. Despite the ongoing injury challenges, Napoli has a glimmer of hope against Roma: in their last five encounters, Napoli has lost only once to the capital club, recording three victories and two draws. Conte will likely look to boost his team’s confidence, keeping this favorable head-to-head record in mind.