Napoli, the importance of the double pivot

Napoli's defensive vulnerabilities in Champions League have prompted Allegri to consider reverting to a double pivot of Lobotka and Gilmour to shore up the midfield.

Napoli conceded 24 shots across matches against Frosinone and Villarreal, highlighting a broader defensive crisis among Italian clubs in European competition. Allegri has identified the midfield as the weak link, noting that Lobotka's absence in the Villarreal match (he entered at 72') exposed the team's vulnerability. The manager is considering a return to the double-pivot system deployed against Bologna and Fiorentina, pairing Lobotka and Gilmour in front of a three-man defence, with Di Lorenzo and Spinazzola providing width while maintaining defensive solidity. De Laurentiis expects the club to honour its Champions League commitments with maximum effort.