Allegri in crisis: can call Melnyk and Lieto for Porto in Champions League?

Napoli, led by Massimiliano Allegri and coming off the defeat to Juventus, must face Porto, coached by Francesco Farioli, at the Estadio do Dragão on Wednesday at 21:00, and is wondering about the possibility of including the youngsters Mykyta Melnyk and Claudio Lieto in the squad for the Champions League in Europe.

European objective and emergencies

The blue club aims to turn the tide in Europe and qualify for the next stage of the tournament. After the defeat to Juventus, the squad is weakened by Mathias Olivera and captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, both out with injury.

In Portugal Napoli will arrive with only Beukema, Rafa Marin and Rrahmani available; in defence the absentees are Buongiorno, Badiashile, Di Lorenzo, Olivera, Spinazzola and Favasuli, leaving room for Giovane, initially excluded.

Regulation and possibility to call up the youngsters

For the match against Juventus, Allegri added six Primavera players, including the full‑back Mykyta Melnyk, born in 2008, and centre‑back Claudio Lieto. However, to take part in a Champions League game a player must be listed on the Champions list, and Melnyk appears in neither List A nor List B.

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Napoli has already made the only change allowed before the match against Villarreal, inserting Giovane in place of Favasuli according to article 31, paragraph 14 of the UEFA regulations. Even without that change, a modification of the list would require a break of at least two months and the results of the medical examinations of Olivera and Di Lorenzo.

Melnyk is not on List B because, although he meets the age requirement, he has not completed two continuous years of registration, having signed for Napoli from Imolese only in August 2025. In contrast, Lieto, registered for many years, can be placed on List B, from which Allegri can draw for the Porto‑Napoli clash.

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The same criteria apply to midfielder Andrea Chiummariello and goalkeeper David Spinelli, also added to the first team for the match against Juventus. As demonstrated with Giovane, Napoli can make exceptional changes to the Champions list, allowed by article 31, paragraph 14.