Allegri demands answers as Napoli’s shaky start deepens

Allegri calls for Napoli to solve early-season problems

Massimiliano Allegri has urged Napoli to address their shortcomings ahead of a Serie A trip to bottom-placed Venezia, insisting he is not alarmed by the team’s difficult opening to the season.

Napoli have collected 10 points from their opening six Serie A matches and sit eighth, six points behind leaders Inter. Their troubles have also extended to Europe: they have lost both of their Champions League games, including Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat to Villarreal.

“I’m not concerned; we need to find solutions to the problems,” Allegri said. He called for Napoli to “manage the ball better at certain points in the match” and respond more effectively to unexpected incidents. He added that the squad had time to improve, but needed to work, restore injured players and manage a schedule of matches every three days.

Injuries and fitness remain concerns

Allegri confirmed David Neres is again struggling with injury. Antonio Vergara and Constantino Favasuli are progressing, but are not close to returning, while Scott McTominay and other players need match time to regain fitness. “A match is completely different,” the coach said.

Napoli have taken one point from their last two away league matches, losing to Inter and drawing with Fiorentina. Their next opponents have endured an even worse league start: Venezia have lost all six of their Serie A matches and could become the first side in the competition’s history to lose their first seven games in two separate top-flight seasons. They also lost all six at the start of the 1949-50 campaign.

Napoli have the historical edge

Napoli have avoided defeat in 14 of their 16 Serie A meetings with Venezia, winning seven and drawing seven. They are unbeaten in their last 10 league encounters, while Venezia’s last top-flight win over Napoli came in March 1942. At the Penzo, however, the record is more even: the teams have each won twice and drawn four of their eight Serie A meetings, including a 0-0 draw in March 2025.

Napoli have won their last seven Serie A matches against newly promoted teams, scoring 18 goals and conceding two, and kept eight clean sheets across their last nine such games. The match forecast gives Napoli a 53.1% chance of victory, with Venezia at 23.2% and a draw at 23.7%.

Hainaut and De Bruyne in focus

Venezia’s Antoine Hainaut has contributed two goals and an assist in Serie A this season, matching Hassane Kamara, Nuno Tavares and Ricardo Mangas for the most goal involvements among defenders. Hainaut has also delivered 35 open-play crosses, at least 11 more than any other player.

For Napoli, Kevin De Bruyne is seeking goals in consecutive league appearances for the first time since October 2022. He scored twice against Frosinone and has been involved in seven goals—five goals and two assists—in 10 appearances for club and country since the start of August.