A 4-3 Champions League win over Bodø/Glimt on October 20 gave Napoli a badly needed boost after a turbulent start to the season, yet it would be premature to call the corner turned. The victory, powered by a Scott McTominay double and a commanding display from Kevin De Bruyne operating as a deep playmaker, offered a glimpse of what this squad can produce when its key players are fit and firing. The problem is that both men have been absent or below par too often, and the win over the Norwegians was as much a reminder of Napoli's dependence on them as it was a cause for celebration.

The backdrop to that result was grim. A 1-0 defeat at Venezia in matchday 7 of Serie A left Napoli 9th with 10 points from seven games, five losses across all competitions in nine outings, and growing speculation over Massimiliano Allegri's future. Sporting director Giovanni Manna moved to publicly back the coach before the Bodø/Glimt match, stating Allegri was not under discussion, though he acknowledged that president Aurelio De Laurentiis had needed reassurance.

Squad depth remains a concern. Alisson Santos suffered a recurrence of his injury at Venezia and faces an extended spell out. Antonio Vergara, however, appears to have recovered ahead of schedule and could feature against Roma on October 24, a home fixture that now carries real weight as Napoli look to rebuild momentum in the league.