Napoli's start to the 2026/27 season has been undermined by a mounting injury crisis, and the international break has done little to ease Massimiliano Allegri's concerns. Mathías Olivera is the latest casualty, picking up a muscular problem during training with Uruguay, adding to a list of absentees that already includes Alessandro Buongiorno, Scott McTominay, and Costantino Favasuli. Buongiorno, who was expected to anchor the defence, has not featured since undergoing knee surgery in the summer and remains some way from a return. McTominay's comeback is also at risk of being delayed following cardiac ablation surgery, which could see him miss both league and Champions League fixtures in the coming weeks.

The injury situation is forcing Allegri to reconsider his tactical setup. Reports suggest a switch to a back three is under discussion, though the fitness problems complicate that transition considerably. On a more positive note, David Neres showed encouraging signs at Fiorentina before the break, and Kevin De Bruyne delivered a strong performance for Belgium, scoring twice against Turkey, which will give Allegri some confidence heading into a busy period.

Napoli sit ninth in Serie A with seven points from five games, and the next test is a home match against Frosinone on October 10. With Champions League commitments also approaching, Allegri needs solutions quickly.