Napoli could miss out on European places, warns Conte

Antonio Conte has warned his Napoli side that they “genuinely risk missing out on Europe entirely” after their late win at Verona.

After Rasmus Hojlund’s opener was cancelled out by Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, Romelu Lukaku scored a 96th-minute winner to help Napoli return to winning ways in Serie A.

Lukaku’s goal (95:11) is the latest scored by Napoli in Serie A since Frank Anguissa against Parma in August 2024 (95:50), while it was also the Belgian’s first in 281 days following his thigh injury earlier this season.

Napoli were far from their best against Verona, registering just eight shots, which amounted to 0.85 xG, despite having 64.9% of possession.

Nevertheless, they maintained their five-point lead on fifth-place Como, though Conte believes his team cannot afford to keep producing their current level of performances.

“This is a season that I will carry with me, because it is teaching me so much about how to deal with situations I’d never experienced before,” Conte told DAZN Italia.

Victory with the last kick of the game!#VeronaNapoli –

#ProudToBeNapoli pic.twitter.com/UOmJZ2xqnH

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) February 28, 2026

“This experience is improving me in so many ways. Dealing with all these situations is not at all easy. I feel that it is making me a better coach.

“We find a way to stay on our feet and find the right way through, not just on a football level, but as human beings too.

“It’s going to be a tough fight, we know that, because other teams are in better situations, while we are trying to get players back in shape.

“We know that we genuinely risk missing out on Europe entirely, we are scraping the bottom of the barrel here. We did well to take the points home today, knowing that we can play much better than this.”

Napoli face Torino and Lecce in their next two Serie A games, both at home, with Conte’s side needing to strengthen their place in the top four race.