Allegri: ‘Napoli need calm, precision and concentration’

MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 05: Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of Napoli, gestures during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Max Allegri explains his somewhat surprising decisions as Napoli host Bologna after three consecutive defeats. ‘We need to play with calm, precision, and more concentration.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s three Serie A games on the Liveblog.

This has been a disastrous start to the season for the Partenopei, who have lost three on the bounce in all competition against Como, Inter and Arsenal.

Allegri recognises Napoli problems

“It’s an important match, only the fourth, but it’s important to get our first home victory,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia.

“We know that we want to invert the current trend, which is negative.”

The Champions League defeat also brought fresh injury problems for Alex Meret and Alisson Santos, joining Scott McTominay, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Giovane, Alessandro Buongiorno and Luca Marianucci on the absentee list.

Noa Lang was therefore expected to start after he was dropped from the squad against Arsenal over disciplinary matters, but instead Antonio Vergara gets the nod in the trident attack.

“Neres is not in great shape and doesn’t have 90 minutes in his legs, so I preferred to keep two attacking players on the bench, and I hope I made the right decision,” explained Allegri.

“The whole team needs to play with calm, precision, and a little more concentration than we’ve shown in recent matches.”

Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour only got their first starts of the season midweek against Arsenal, but there is no time for rest and few alternatives to keeping them in the XI.