PSV - Napoli: When one horse is hurt, the whole team must rise

21/10/2025 07:37:00 ChampionChatter

It is very likely that Napoli will still be without Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay for their upcoming away game at PSV Eindhoven. They lost to Torino last weekend. What must they do tonight to avoid an unfortunate result?

The 0-1 defeat at Torino last weekend not only caused Napoli to lose the Serie A top spot but also revealed the heavy price they are paying due to overload and injury problems. McTominay and Hojlund sat out due to fitness issues following international matches.

Injury crisis and confidence

The addition of McTominay (requiring six stitches on his ankle) and Hojlund (thigh fatigue) to the injured list already including Stanislav Lobotka, Romelu Lukaku, and Amir Rrahmani delivers a serious blow to Napoli’s ambitions. In the 7th round Serie A loss to Torino, coach Antonio Conte had to field a patched lineup with six players rarely starting, and this disruption visibly weakened Partenopei’s strength. A defining image of Italy’s champions’ difficult moment: their two most promising signings sitting side by side in the stands, powerless as their teammates fell.

Conte appeared quite calm after the match, stating he “never talks about absences” and trusts the current squad. However, everyone understands this is a serious problem. Last season, Napoli won the Serie A title partly because they only focused on domestic competitions, avoiding overload. Now, competing in the Champions League and with key players on national duty, the harshness of a packed schedule is becoming clear. Yet, this is a challenge all top clubs face, and if Napoli cannot adapt to the three-day match cycle, that is truly their own issue.

Another concerning problem is Napoli’s poor away form. They have lost all their last three matches away from Diego Maradona Stadium (two in Serie A, one in the Champions League). Confidence seems to have faded without the fans’ support. Tonight’s match in Eindhoven may be even quieter due to maximum security measures amid a high risk of riots, a common occurrence when Napoli plays away in European competitions.

Substitute players like Lucca (right) must step up to help Napoli overcome difficulties

Calling for collective effort

When key players are unavailable, this is the moment Napoli must rely on their “B team,” especially those newly signed in the summer transfer window costing up to 150 million euros. So far, except for Kevin De Bruyne, Sam Beukema, Rasmus Hojlund, and to some extent Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, the other newcomers have been quiet. Lorenzo Lucca has been disappointing, David Neres (joined early 2025) unstable on the right wing, Billy Gilmour made a fatal mistake, and Noa Lang has yet to integrate. The poor performances of backup options raise serious questions about Napoli’s squad depth, contrary to Conte’s declarations.

Beyond tactical aspects, substitute players also need to share the physical workload. Key players De Bruyne, Anguissa, and Di Lorenzo have been playing continuously since the start of the season, increasing the risk of new injuries. More than ever, Napoli must appeal to team spirit and individual effort to get through this difficult phase together. The responsibility now lies with substitutes like Lucca, Lang, Neres, Gilmour, and Juan Jesus. They need to prove their value and turn challenges into opportunities.

This is a tough trip for Napoli because while they are vulnerable, PSV Eindhoven is thriving. They are competing for the Dutch title with an average of three goals per match, demonstrating impressive offensive strength. Under coach Peter Bosz, PSV plays expansive, attack-minded football always pushing forward, definitely capable of threatening the nervous defense of the Italian visitors. They are also hungry for a win after starting the Champions League with only one point from two matches, including a costly 1-3 home loss to Royal Union SG.

All these factors make the match at Philips Stadion a severe test of Napoli’s courage. When one horse is injured, the whole team cannot abandon the pasture but must rise and fight with all their strength to overcome hardship and regain confidence.

02:00, 22/10, Royale Union SG – Inter: Impossible to stop Inter

After the first two rounds of the Champions League, only Inter and Arsenal remain unbeaten in terms of conceding goals. Like the early stage of last season’s Champions League, scoring against Inter remains a huge challenge for any opponent.

Royale Union will not be an exception. At their home ground Lotto Park, they lost 0-4 to Newcastle in the previous round, partly showing the gap in quality compared to top-level opponents. Facing the reigning runners-up Inter, a team with one of Europe’s sharpest and most versatile attacks (23 goals in 9 matches), the chance to avoid a heavy defeat is slim. However, Inter only needs 3 pointsm. It is likely that coach Cristian Chivu will rest some key players to prepare for the big Serie A clash against Napoli this weekend.

Nguyen Vinh

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