European week has left Serie A with a heavier problem than four defeats: a growing injury list that could reshape the league’s next decisive stretch. With five major direct meetings scheduled before the November international break, the absences at Inter, Roma, Napoli and Como may carry consequences well beyond the clubs’ attempts to recover ground in the Champions League league phase.
A difficult return from Europe
The Italian sides’ Champions League results have already complicated their routes towards the play-offs, but the physical cost of the latest round is now commanding equal attention. Inter, Roma, Napoli and Como have all lost players, with five injuries potentially accounting for at least 22 missed matches in total.
- Inter face the prospect of playing without Lautaro Martinez for around six weeks.
- Roma are waiting for confirmation on Manu Koné, whose expected lay-off could also run into late November.
- Napoli’s David Neres is likely to be sidelined for approximately three weeks.
- Como will be without Assane Diao for Sunday’s trip to Fiorentina, with the extent of his issue still to be assessed.
- Paulo Dybala’s condition appears less serious, although Roma are unlikely to take a risk against Genoa on Saturday evening.
The timing is particularly awkward because Serie A’s leading clubs are approaching a sequence of fixtures that can alter the shape of the title race. Napoli meet Roma, Milan take on Inter, Juventus face Napoli, Inter play Como and Napoli later host Lazio before the November pause.
Inter and Roma face their biggest concerns
Lautaro Martinez suffered a muscle injury to the flexors in his left thigh. The Argentina forward is expected to be unavailable for roughly a month and a half, a period that would keep him out until the end of the next international break.
For Cristian Chivu’s Inter, the loss comes at a demanding point in the calendar and removes a central attacking reference before the derby against Milan and the meeting with Como.
Roma’s concern centres on Koné. The French midfielder went off with what is thought to be a right-thigh flexor problem during the match against Real Madrid. Formal medical confirmation is still awaited, but the anticipated return date is the penultimate weekend of November.
There was more encouraging news regarding Dybala, who was withdrawn at half-time and is believed to have suffered only fatigue rather than a structural injury. Even so, Roma are expected to manage him carefully, making his involvement against Genoa at 20:45 on Saturday unlikely.
Napoli and Como lose attacking options
Massimiliano Allegri and Cesc Fabregas, whose sides are already behind Chivu’s Inter and Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma in the Serie A table, must also manage fresh selection problems.
Neres entered Napoli’s defeat at Villarreal and played around half an hour before sustaining a low-grade injury to the semimembranosus muscle in his right thigh. His expected recovery period is three weeks. That could place him in contention for the match against Lazio, although Napoli are expected to be cautious given his previous injury record.
Como’s setback was especially frustrating. Diao had put Fabregas’ team ahead away to Feyenoord before picking up a left-thigh issue. The injury has not yet been fully evaluated, but Fabregas indicated the immediate concern by saying that the player “could not run”.
Diao will certainly miss Como’s Sunday afternoon visit to Fiorentina, while the club waits to learn whether the damage will extend further into a congested league programme.
The championship schedule raises the stakes
The European round has therefore left Serie A with a depleted cast at precisely the moment its major rivals are due to meet. The coming weeks include:
- Napoli versus Roma
- Milan versus Inter
- Juventus versus Napoli
- Inter versus Como
- Napoli versus Lazio
Four clubs, four European defeats and five players affected: the Champions League has left a significant mark on the domestic campaign. How quickly the injured players return may now be as important as the results still needed in Europe.
