Pepe Reina is almost certain to miss tonight’s showdown between Napoli and Juventus, so Rafael should go in goal.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.
The goalkeeper had to pull out of international duty with Spain due to a calf injury and it is taking far longer to heal than expected.
Pepe Reina is almost certain to miss tonight’s showdown between Napoli and Juventus, so Rafael should go in goal.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.
The goalkeeper had to pull out of international duty with Spain due to a calf injury and it is taking far longer to heal than expected.
Coach Maurizio Sarri said he’d leave the decision up to Reina, but the whispers emerging from the Napoli camp are pessimistic.
It’s not just the injury that is causing problems for Reina, as it’s also reported he spent the night at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital where his wife Yolanda Ruiz was rushed to hospital for an emergency operation.
At this point, it’s almost certain that Reina won’t be ready to play in this massive grudge match against his former teammate Gonzalo Higuain.
Rafael is the favourite to take over, even though he only has one appearance this season, in a 3-1 Coppa Italia victory over Spezia in January.
Luigi Sepe is another option for the gloves, but he hasn’t played at all this term.
Napoli (probable): Rafael; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Mertens, Insigne
Napoli bench: Reina, Sepe, Chiriches, Maksimovic, Maggio, Strinic, Rog, Giaccherini, Zielinski, Diawara, Milik, Pavoletti
Juventus (probable): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Asamoah; Khedira, Marchisio; Lemina, Pjanic, Mandzukic; Higuain
Juventus bench: Neto, Audero, Benatia, Barzagli, Dani Alves, Rugani, Alex Sandro, Sturaro, Cuadrado, Rincon, Mandragora, Dybala