Naples faces its final test with Alisson and Lobotka injured

SSC Napoli approaches its final Serie A match of the season with a squad depleted of two key players. Alisson Santos and Stanislav Lobotka, both crucial midfielders, have been ruled out due to injuries. This latest blow adds to a season already plagued by repeated absences in the Napoli dressing room.Barcelona have claimed the Women's Champions League title, a trophy that seems a world away for Rudi Garcia's men.

Alisson Santos, the Brazilian defensive midfielder signed in 2023, picked up an injury during the team's last training session before the game against Monza. Lobotka, the Slovak international midfielder, suffered a muscular issue during the previous match. Both players are expected to miss the decisive clash against Inter Milan on Sunday at San Siro. Their absence deprives the team of much-needed experience and stability at a crucial stage of the season. This string of injuries is no coincidence. Napoli has already lost several key starters this season, including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen, both sidelined by prolonged injuries. The club attempted to bolster its squad in January, but the results have yet to materialize. With just three wins in their last ten matches, the team is struggling to maintain its position in the top half of the table and is seeing its European ambitions for next season slip away. Napoli fans are hoping for a late resurgence despite the setbacks. The club remains in contention for a Europa League spot, but achieving this will require fit and available players. The absences of Alisson and Lobotka could prove decisive as the club must secure a positive result against Inter Milan, one of the league's title contenders. The 2025-2026 season concludes on a bitter note for Napoli. Between injuries, lackluster performances, and dashed hopes, questions about the club's future are mounting. Rudi Garcia, under intense pressure, will need to find solutions to bounce back next summer. The task is all the more daunting as the transfer market looks set to be complicated following such a challenging season.