Juventus host Napoli at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday with both sides on 14 points and both short of key figures. Spalletti is missing seven players, while Napoli lose their suspended coach and their midfield organiser Lobotka.

Juventus and Napoli go into Sunday’s Serie A Matchday 10 meeting at the Allianz Stadium level on points. Both benches will look different. Napoli will be without their head coach, with assistant Landucci on the bench. Spalletti is still missing seven players.

Allegri was sent off in Napoli’s 3-3 home draw with Roma. Serie A’s sporting judge then punished him for disrespectful remarks to the match officials. The ban covered the trip to Monza on 28 October and now the visit to Juventus. Napoli first announced an appeal. Allegri dropped it, saying he feared the ban could rise to four matches. The suspension is now final.

Napoli also lost Lobotka at Monza. He was stretchered off just after the 15th minute following a challenge with Mangas. The club’s medical update found damage to the tibiofibular syndesmosis in his left ankle, without instability. He also has a low-grade injury to the anterior talofibular ligament. He has started rehabilitation, with Napoli aiming for a return against Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia on 16 December. Badiashile and Neres are also injured.

Seven absentees leave Spalletti short across the squad

The Juventus list is longer. Yildiz is expected back in early December after a foot operation, Sky Sport Italia reported. Thuram, who had knee surgery, is due back in early 2027. Locatelli is out until 2027 after a lateral meniscus operation. Grabara, with a right-knee ACL injury, is effectively out for the season.

Nico González (right soleus), Çelik (left hamstring) and Conceição (shoulder dislocation) are all expected back after the international break. There is one return. Young forward Ekhator is available again.

Juventus want a response from players, not a new coach

Juventus arrive after an uneven run. Lazio won 3-0 away at Juventus on 18 October. Spalletti’s side then won at Lecce on 25 October, with goals from McKennie and Douglas Luiz. Genoa won the next game through first-half goals from Ehizibue and Baldanzi. Koopmeiners hit the crossbar in stoppage time.

After the Genoa defeat, chief executive Carnevali held a long meeting with the squad. He told them to change course straight away, especially in their mentality. Spalletti then announced the squad would stay together from Friday evening until the Napoli game. The club wants the response to come from the players on the pitch rather than from a change of coach. John Elkann still backs Spalletti, and the coach has no intention of giving up, according to Tuttosport.

The fixture also brings Spalletti back against Napoli, the club he won the title with. The last meeting, in January 2026 at the Allianz Stadium, ended 3-0 to Juventus. Jonathan David, Kenan Yildiz and Filip Kostić scored. A win on Sunday would lift Juventus clear of a direct rival. Spalletti’s pre-match press conference is set for Saturday 31 October at 17:00, the day before kick-off.