Alisson Santos Re-Injured: Napoli Confirm Hamstring Blow

Alisson Santos' Return Turns Sour

Napoli have confirmed that Alisson Santos suffered a medium-grade hamstring injury during Saturday's 1-0 Serie A defeat against Venezia, in what was the Brazilian attacker's first appearance after recovering from the exact same issue. The club announced the news in a statement on its official website on Monday, following medical tests on the 24-year-old.

The injury occurred towards the end of a shock loss to a Venezia side that had not picked up a single point in Serie A before the weekend. It is a bitter blow for both player and club, as Alisson had only just returned from a hamstring problem sustained in a 1-0 Champions League defeat against Arsenal in September.

That previous setback kept him out of four matches across all competitions, though the lay-off stretched beyond a month due to the extended international break at the end of September and beginning of October. Now, with the next international break officially starting on November 9, reports suggest it is unlikely the Brazilian will feature again before the next round of Nations League matches.

What It Means for Napoli

The timing could hardly be worse for Napoli, who are licking their wounds after a surprising home defeat. Alisson's absence removes an attacking option from the squad at a crucial juncture of the season, and the club will be anxious to avoid a repeat of the prolonged recovery that followed his first hamstring injury.

While the club has not specified an exact return date, the medium-grade classification typically requires a careful rehabilitation period. Napoli's medical staff will be monitoring his progress closely, but the proximity of the international break means Alisson is unlikely to be rushed back into action.

For those looking ahead to Napoli's upcoming fixtures, our Serie A predictions will factor in the latest squad availability. The club's depth will be tested as they aim to bounce back from the Venezia result.

Zoma Sidelined Until Winter Break

In Germany, Mohamed Ali Zoma will not be available for Roberto Mancini's next Italy squad in November after 1. FC Nürnberg confirmed he requires surgery on a dislocated shoulder. The 22-year-old was stretchered off in Nürnberg's most recent 2. Bundesliga fixture against Energie Cottbus.

Zoma had been a surprise inclusion in Mancini's Italy squad last month, earning his first cap off the bench in a 2-0 Nations League defeat against Belgium. His club form had been outstanding, with seven goals from his first eight 2. Bundesliga appearances this season, following a 2025-26 campaign in which he netted 14 and provided five assists from 29 appearances in the German second tier.

Nürnberg's statement confirmed that the surgery will keep him out of action 'at least' until the 2. Bundesliga's winter break, which runs from December 20 to January 15, 2027. It is a significant loss for both club and country, as Zoma was beginning to establish himself on the international stage.

City's Striking Concerns

Meanwhile, Manchester City are facing a potential striker crisis ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with AEK Athens. Erling Haaland is a doubt after suffering a blow to the foot in Saturday's 3-2 win over Ipswich Town, a game in which he scored twice to take his Premier League tally to eight for the season.

Manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the difficulty of replacing the Norwegian: "To replace Erling is always difficult but we have some different options. It also depends on the gameplan." He added: "At the moment it is Erling. Why do we need to think of a different nine if Erling is there? If something happened or we need a different nine plan, we'll see."

Should Haaland fail to recover, City will also be without Antoine Semenyo, who has been ruled out for eight weeks with a left knee injury sustained in the same match. That leaves Maresca short on recognised centre-forward options for a crucial European fixture, with the club still smarting from last week's 4-2 defeat by Paris St-Germain.

For more injury news and squad updates, visit our latest football news section. And for predictions on how these absences might affect upcoming matches, check out our today's AI betting tips.