Napoli: Three hopes, one fear

NAPLES, ITALY - OCTOBER 19: Players of Napoli pose for photo with the banner against the racism prior the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Besiktas JK at Stadio San Paolo on October 19, 2016 in Naples, . (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - OCTOBER 19: Players of Napoli pose for photo with the banner against the racism prior the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Besiktas JK at Stadio San Paolo on October 19, 2016 in Naples, . (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
Dries Mertens of SSC Napoli during the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Besiktas at Stadio San Paolo Naples Italy on 19 October 2016. (Photo Franco Romano\NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Dries Mertens of SSC Napoli during the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Besiktas at Stadio San Paolo Naples Italy on 19 October 2016. (Photo Franco Romano\NurPhoto via Getty Images) /

No Higuain no problem for Napoli?

Thirty-eight goals is an awful lot of goals to replace. That is the situation that Napoli find themselves in this season, attempting to move on from the Gonzalo Higuain era and competing in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League. It is not an easy place to be in considering that all of their rivals in Italy have significantly improved their sides.

Yet here we are two months into the season and the Partenopei are holding their own not just in Italy (4-2-2, 14 points) but also in the Champions League (2-0-1, 6 points).

The addition of forward Arkadiusz Milik (seven goals across all competitions) and a stalwart defense led by Kalidou Koulilbaly have Napoli supporters believing that this side can come together and deliver silverware this season. To do so manager Maurizio Sarri will need to put in another wonder effort and the fear is that he might not be up to the task.

So without further adieu let’s look at the three hopes and one fear of Napoli!