Napoli celebrated a narrow 1-0 victory over Sassuolo, stretching an impressive home unbeaten run, yet the mood stayed cautious as Cristian Stellini called on the club hierarchy to act in the January transfer window after fresh injuries deepened an already stretched squad during a crowded schedule.
Stanislav Lobotka scored the decisive goal, his first Serie A strike in 1,251 days, and the result moved Antonio Conte's side to within six points of Inter. That success also meant Napoli went over 20 consecutive home league matches without defeat for the fifth time in their history.
The win came at a cost when Amir Rrahmani and Matteo Politano both suffered problems against Sassuolo. Rrahmani left on 67 minutes with an apparent muscle injury, replaced
by Alessandro Buongiorno, while Politano clutched a hamstring yet stayed on because all substitutions had already been used. Eljif Elmas reported dizziness linked to possible flu symptoms rather than a muscular issue.
Those concerns added to a lengthy injury list that already included David Neres, Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa, Romelu Lukaku, Billy Gilmour and Alex Meret. With several core players unavailable across key areas, options for Conte narrowed further and left Stellini highlighting the strain on Napoli’s depth during a demanding month of domestic and European fixtures.
| Napoli player | Status |
|---|---|
| David Neres | Injured |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Injured |
| Frank Anguissa | Injured |
| Romelu Lukaku | Injured |
| Billy Gilmour | Injured |
| Alex Meret | Injured |
| Amir Rrahmani | Injured, awaiting tests |
| Matteo Politano | Injured, awaiting tests |
"Elmas felt dizzy, it was probably down to flu symptoms, so it wasn't an injury, but we'll have evaluations for Politano and Rrahmani in the next few days, Stellini told DAZN Italia. We both feel happy at the victory, thanks to a team that continues to play in a difficult situation, but also we don't know how much longer we can keep this going. We don't have many players left, and the fixture list is packed. I think Napoli are the only team with nine games to be played in January. The fixture list was drawn up badly, it's not possible that with the Supercoppa Italiana, it was nine games in 28 days. We don't have many players, so we need to discuss this with the club, certainly. We probably need new players straight away. "
Full time#NapoliSassuolo 1-0 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/qAFd3MoCruOfficial SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) January 17, 2026
Stellini highlighted how scheduling intensified the pressure on resources. Napoli faced four matches in 11 days to close January 2026, across Serie A and Europe. That run included an away trip to FC Copenhagen in the penultimate Champions League league phase fixture, followed by a return to domestic action against Juventus on 25 January, plus Supercoppa Italiana commitments earlier in the month.
Against Sassuolo, academy graduate Antonio Vergara received a first Serie A start, coming one day after Vergara’s 23rd birthday, before Pasquale Mazzocchi replaced the midfielder. Stellini stressed that defensive numbers remained acceptable, yet midfield and attacking areas relied heavily on the same players, prompting increased use of youth options as short-term cover during this demanding period.
"We need more to bolster the numbers, otherwise we have to dip into the youth academy, Stellini added on the situation. We've got enough in defence, but in midfield and attack, we just aren't rotating at all. We're waiting for the return of David Neres soon, but we're not sure when the others will be back. We need players, the coach and the club will evaluate it. There is anxiety because there are so many matches. It's a matter purely of numbers, not of choices to be made. Something has to be done, it is planned. We know the January transfer window isn't easy to work in, but there are some interventions that have to be made. "
Napoli’s victory over Sassuolo strengthened their league position and extended a strong home sequence, yet Stellini’s comments underlined concern about squad size, the heavy January programme and multiple absentees, leaving the coaching staff and club management to assess possible January transfer window moves while waiting for injured players to recover.
