Napoli, Allegri: "In Champions our destiny is in our hands, we'll need a match of suffering"

Allegri warns Napoli face a difficult test at Porto on Wednesday and says the team must improve defensive management in the final stages of matches.

Ahead of Napoli's Champions League trip to Porto on Wednesday at 21:00, manager Massimiliano Allegri addressed the team's inconsistency and defensive vulnerabilities. Napoli have conceded 11 of their 20 seasonal goals in the final 30 minutes of matches, a statistic Allegri acknowledged must improve. He described the Porto fixture as a "match of suffering" that the team needs, emphasizing the importance of character and desire to see out results. Despite injuries affecting the squad, Allegri stressed that absences cannot be used as an excuse. He noted that in the Champions League, Napoli's destiny remains in their hands — with 10 points they can secure a playoff spot, which would be a significant achievement after losing their opening two matches before beating Bodø/Glimt at home. In Serie A, Napoli trail in the title race and must focus on consistency, with the manager highlighting small details as the difference between winning and dropping points.