Napoli’s brief spell of calm has been cut short. Just as they clambered out of a three-game slump with a narrow win over Bologna, the injury list has grown again – this time with a familiar and costly name.
Leonardo Spinazzola did not train with the group on Friday and will miss Sunday’s away match at Fiorentina after suffering a mild strain in the hamstring of his right thigh. Napoli confirmed the issue in an official update, and multiple Italian outlets, including Il Mattino and Sky, report that the left-back will not be available for the lunchtime kick-off in Florence (12:30 CET, 11:30 BST).
For a squad already patched together, it is a significant setback. Spinazzola’s experience and balance on the flank were expected to be central to Napoli’s plans in a tricky fixture at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Now the coaching staff must improvise again on a line already under pressure this season.
The bad news does not stop there. Frank Zambo Anguissa also continued to work away from the main group, Napoli said, training separately as he battles his own fitness problems. His ongoing absence makes his presence in Florence highly unlikely and strips the midfield of one of its most reliable engines.
The list of absentees reads like a roll call of what might have been. Alessandro Buongiorno, Luca Marianucci, Scott McTominay, Giovane, Alex Meret and Alisson Santos are all ruled out of the trip, leaving key areas of the pitch short of both depth and continuity.
Napoli at least travel with a small dose of renewed confidence. The 1-0 victory over Bologna at the Stadio Maradona last weekend stopped a run of three consecutive defeats in all competitions and eased some of the tension around the squad. It was not sparkling, but it was necessary.
Now comes a different kind of test. With a growing injury crisis and a demanding opponent waiting in Florence, Napoli’s response will say plenty about their resilience – and about how far this group can really go once the season’s grind begins to bite.
