Juventus Defender in Doubt for Upcoming Napoli Game

Federico Gatti faces a race against the clock to be ready for the clash with Napoli. The defender sprained his ankle against PSV and has been limited in training afterward. He wore the captain’s armband in the first few matches since Danilo has yet to start.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the center-back avoided lesions. He’s done progressively more in training. He’ll be assessed in the final practice to determine his availability, but there’s optimism.

Still, even if Gatti is good to go, Thiago Motta could decide to spare him initially and rotate his men a little after the midweek Champions League tilt. Rather than rearrange the rearguard, he’d field Danilo in the middle, as he did versus the Dutch team.

Instead, Juventus won’t be able to count on Arkadiusz Milik a while longer. He has been medically cleared following a meniscus tear, but the gaffer wants him to do a proper pre-season preparation after he was sidelined in the summer. He’s likely to return only after the next international break. Francisco Conceiçao will remain on the mend and might miss further games.

Motta has a few doubts in his hands other than the one related to Gatti. He might switch things up in the midfield especially. Khephren Thuram could get the start over Weston McKennie and Douglas Luiz. Timothy Weah would enter the XI if either Nico Gonzalez or Kenan Yildiz was initially spared. Juan Cabal is pushing Pierre Kalulu for a spot in the back. Andrea Cambiaso would switch flanks in that event.