Max Allegri openly addressed Napoli’s challenges after a 4-1 loss to FC Porto, a defeat that jeopardizes their Champions League campaign. “These are the mistakes that cost you matches,” he remarked.
Heading into the match at Estadio do Dragao, Napoli faced extreme adversity, as the team was missing 10 players due to injuries and ineligibility, leaving them with only three senior players available on the bench.
Despite the odds, the team managed to finish the first half tied 1-1, with Scott McTominay equalizing after Jan Bednarek’s opener.
However, the second half saw Napoli collapse, conceding three goals in the final 20 minutes due to a Gabriel Veiga counter-attack, a corner header from Jakub Kiwior, and a penalty kick awarded after a red card offense by Rafa Marin.
Allegri Sees Napoli Running on Empty
PORTO, PORTUGAL – NOVEMBER 04: Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of SSC Napoli, looks on before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between FC Porto and SSC Napoli at Estadio do Dragao on November 04, 2026 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images)
Allegri commented on the game to Sky Sport Italia, stating, “We made mistakes on two set plays, the team had in my view a good performance up to the 70th minute.” He expressed frustration over conceding a goal from a bouncing ball, attributing it partly to fatigue among his players.
He noted, “It’s high tempo in the Champions League, and in those final minutes we struggled, as they hit the crossbar twice just before the goal.” Allegri finds himself under pressure following a series of disappointing results in significant matches, having lost three of their first four Champions League games. He faces a crucial encounter against Lazio this Sunday. “We need to recuperate; these are the only players we’ve got,” he said.
“You win and lose matches on details, not the big things, but the small ones. The team fought aggressively against Porto while they were able, but then we ran out of energy,” Allegri reflected.
He described the upcoming match against Lazio as critical, stating, “It’s like a Cup Final for us, and hopefully we can recover some players during the international break.”
PORTO, PORTUGAL – NOVEMBER 04: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with Kevin De Bruyne during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between FC Porto and SSC Napoli at Estadio do Dragao on November 04, 2026 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images)
As Napoli grapples with these ongoing struggles, Allegri has switched his formation to a 3-5-1-1 to manage the player shortage effectively. “This was the only way to play tonight. It worked well for over an hour, but Porto made five substitutions while we had no fresh legs to bring on,” he explained.
Allegri acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining a high-pressure style without substitutes. He reaffirmed, “If you want to play with aggression, you need fresh legs off the bench; otherwise, you are forced to defend deep, which we’ve struggled to do.” The inability to convert a defensive clearance into an advantage proved costly.
When asked about the defense’s performance, Allegri admitted shared responsibility, stating, “I know the limitations of this squad… Late-game fatigue impacts performance significantly, especially when the same players are required to play every three days.” He looks ahead, hoping for player recoveries during the upcoming break.
