Antonio Conte warns Napoli and Atalanta ‘don’t maintain again’ for at the moment’s battle, however reacts with irritation to Scott McTominay health questions. ‘You’d have to speak to the medical doctors.’
It kicks off on the New Steadiness Area in Bergamo at 14.00 GMT (15.00 CET).
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NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: Raffaele Palladino Atalanta BC head coach greets Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach earlier than the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Atalanta BC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photograph by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Pictures)
This can be a battle for European locations, seeing as Conte is keen to shrug off any speak of a Scudetto problem.
“It would definitely be a match the place we want a number of vitality, as these are two groups who don’t maintain again,”
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“We need to dominate the sport, these are sides who don’t sit again in their very own half, wait and go on the counter. Inevitably, the duels can be decisive all around the pitch.
“Atalanta have unpredictability in assault too, as Sulemana and Zalewski will be devastating after they reduce inside to shoot or go for aim. There are numerous gifted gamers who can do the identical.”
Conte annoyed at on-going Napoli damage disaster
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Scott McTominay of Napoli (proper) celebrates with Antonio Conte, head coach of Napoli, and his team-mates after scoring a aim in the course of the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photograph by Simone Arveda/Getty Pictures)
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The Partenopei are out of the Champions League and the Coppa Italia, whereas in Serie A they fought again twice to carry Roma in a 2-2 thriller.
Alisson Santos scored off the bench in that recreation and is rewarded right here along with his first begin, particularly as Scott McTominay, David Neres, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa are nonetheless out injured.
ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 04: SSC Napoli head coah Antonio Conte in the course of the Serie A match between SS Lazio and SSC Napoli at Stadio Olimpico on January 04, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Pictures)
Juan Jesus returns from suspension to bolster the defence, however when Conte was requested for damage updates, he seemed visibly irritated.
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“You’d have to speak to the medical doctors, as a result of I haven’t seen McTominay coaching with us in any respect since he went off in opposition to Genoa. He has an irritation, however we will’t determine when he’ll be again. You should converse to the medical employees, not with me, all I can do is say that Scott has not educated with us in any respect since Genoa.”
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, seems on previous to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Pictures)
Whereas De Bruyne is anticipated again in Naples subsequent week, Conte warns that doesn’t imply we will count on the previous Manchester Metropolis star on the pitch.
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“De Bruyne is a distinct matter, simply take a look at how a lot Lukaku is struggling to get well from his severe damage, when the tendon was indifferent. I believe speaking about that is pointless now, as these are severe tendon accidents and a really lengthy course of for the total restoration.
“It’s a must to hope this stuff don’t occur, as in any other case you danger dropping a participant for an entire yr. So it’s not about after they return, however how they return.”