Napoli, Mertens favorite over Petagna but Spalletti has to redesign the team
The match against Lazio is likely to be extremely indicative of Napoli’s season. Not only because it comes after the double consecutive defeat against Inter and Spartak Moscow or for the implications of the standings, but above all for the indications that will come from the field on how Napoli will be able to make up for the absence of Victor Osimhen who will have to stay out at least a couple for months and will benefit from a protective mask, complicated to make due to the nature of its claims. Anguissa, Politano, Ounas will also be missing, also shortening the choices on the bench, but it is the striker’s seat that creates more perplexity.
It’s up to Mertens
Dries Mertens is on pole to replace Osimhen. It should be he, with Petagna as a substitute (or in tandem) at the initiative, to take on the weight of the attack. And right here come the biggest doubts: Osimhen allowed Napoli to often in the long pass to take refuge in the depth, or even defend dangerous without getting too much off balance. With Mertens – as we have already seen in Moscow – the team must increase more phrasing, control the attacking half by raising the center of gravity more and arrive in the penalty area in a more elaborate way, as in the years of Sarri, who will do it on Sunday. visit to Fuorigrotta.