Napoli approaches away trip to Venice, three points crucial: Conte grappling with injuries and heavy absences
Napoli is preparing for the away match against Venezia, with Antonio Conte yet to untie all the knots on the starting lineup. The Azzurri coach is working on what has now become the team’s tactical identity: the 3-5-2, which almost turns into a 4-2-4 in the offensive phase, with Matteo Politano and Scott McTominay ready to spread out to support the Lukaku-Raspadori attacking pair.
Napoli knows that the challenge at the Penzo hides more than one trap, and it will need the maximum application seen against Fiorentina to bring home three points that would be very important.
Napoli tra dubbi e rientri: Mazzocchi ok, dubbi su Neres e Anguissa
Coach Conte’s only real doubt concerns the left-hand lane, where Mathías Olivera and Leonardo Spinazzola are vying for a starting shirt. The former Roma man has offered solid performances in recent weeks, but the Uruguayan is returning to condition and could be a solution for this challenge.
Scelte difficili per Conte: tanti rientri per il Venezia, formazione ancora da valutare (LaPresse) – spazionapoli.it
Good news, on the other hand, is coming from the injury front: Pasquale Mazzocchi has disposed of his physical problem and is fully recovered. An extra asset for Antonio Conte, especially in a match that promises to be as tough as the one against Venezia.
Instead, the presence of David Neres and Frank Anguissa remains in doubt. The former Benfica outfielder is still not at his best and is unlikely to be risked from the first minute, but he should be summoned and start from the bench. Same for the Cameroonian midfielder, whose condition will be evaluated until the last moment.
Un Venezia da non sottovalutare
Venezia, struggling for salvation, will sell their skins dearly and try to take advantage of the field factor to put the Azzurri in trouble. Conte knows this and asks his men for maximum concentration, especially because of the unusual time of the match: it will be played at 12:30 p.m.
Mazzocchi c’è, Neres e Anguissa ancora in dubbio: giorni decisivi in ottica Venezia per gli azzurri (LaPresse) – spazionapoli.it
With some uncertainties still to be unraveled, Napoli approaches this away match with the knowledge that every point will be decisive in reaching their seasonal goal, which now seems to be more the Scudetto than Champions League placement. The official lineup will not be decided until after the game, but one thing is certain: Conte will not allow any dips.
