How Juventus could line up against Napoli after triple defensive injury problem

An injury to Federico Gatti means that Luciano Spalletti has been left without three of his first-team centre-backs for Sunday’s huge Serie A clash away against reigning champions Napoli, so how could the Bianconeri line up at the back when they take on the Partenopei at the Maradona? 

Gatti was forced out of Juventus’s 2-0 Coppa Italia win over Udinese 10 minutes into the second half at the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday night. 

He has since reported for medical checks in Turin, and it has been confirmed that he will need surgery to fix a medial meniscus tear in his right knee. He is expected to be unavailable until the new year. 

Gatti adds to an injury list that already included two first-team centre-backs in Gleison Bremer and Daniele Rugani, both of whom are hoping to return towards the end of December. 

The situation means that Pierre Kalulu and Lloyd Kelly are now the only established senior centre-backs in Spalletti’s first-team squad, which is a bit of a concern given that the Old Lady have most regularly lined up in a back three this season. 

If Spalletti is to go with a back three when he takes on his former club this weekend, it is most likely that Teun Koopmeiners, who has been tried out in the defensive line in recent weeks, joins Kalulu and Kelly as the third centre-back. There is also a possibility that Juan Cabal is given a go on the left of the three.

However, if Spalletti were to go with a back four, it is most likely that Kalulu and Kelly are selected as centre-backs, with Andrea Cambiaso and Cabal as the elected full-backs.