Antonio Conte, serving a two-match touchline ban after his San Siro sending-off, blasted VAR and referees while Napoli prepare a rescheduled Serie A fixture. Betting angle: with Conte absent but Rasmus Hojlund in strong form, punters might favour Napoli to win and consider backing Hojlund to score or Napoli on a -0.5 handicap.
Conte criticises VAR after two-match ban
Antonio Conte will miss the touchline after being sent off in the 2-2 draw with Inter and subsequently handed a two-match ban. The coach urged his squad to "turn the page straight away" given the congested fixture list, insisting the focus must remain on performance rather than refereeing controversies. "Evidently something is not going right. I prefer to focus on the pitch," Conte said, refusing to dwell on the disputed penalty.
Rescheduled Week 16: match details and kickoff
The Partenopei return for a rescheduled Week 16 Serie A fixture at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, moved from December because of Supercoppa commitments. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:30 GMT (18:30 CET). Conte's absence from the dugout will be a subplot as Napoli aim to maintain momentum.
Rasmus Hojlund thriving under Napoli coaching
Rasmus Hojlund has shown marked improvement since his mid-August arrival. Conte praised the 22-year-old's development, highlighting tactical coaching on positioning, team work and timing: "Rasmus is a player who has improved so much since he first arrived. He is 22 years old, we saw great potential in him... these lads need to be coached by people who can improve them."
Tactical implications of Hojlund's form
Hojlund's sharper movement and understanding of when to drop or attack space gives Napoli a more fluid frontline. Even without Conte at the touchline, the striker's form provides a clear attacking focal point and reduces disruption from managerial absence, allowing the coaching staff to deploy familiar patterns that have produced goals recently.
Injury update: David Neres
David Neres returns to the matchday squad after a sprained ankle but is not fully certain to play. He completed only half a training session yesterday and is listed on the bench as a potential late substitute if he reaches full fitness during the warm-up.
Looking ahead
Napoli must quickly refocus amid officiating debate and fixture congestion. With Conte sidelined and Hojlund hitting form, the balance between managerial absence and player momentum will shape both on-field tactics and market expectations ahead of kick-off.
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Antonio Conte said ‘evidently something is not going right’ with VAR and referees after his...
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