Serie A Daily Report - 2026-10-20: McTominay double earns Napoli thrilling Champions League victory

Scott McTominay scored twice on Tuesday as Napoli defeated Bodo/Glimt 4-3 in a seven-goal Champions League thriller. The Scotland midfielder, making only his second start since undergoing a procedure for a mild, benign arrhythmia in September, put Napoli ahead 2-1 shortly before half-time and restored their advantage with a 75th-minute header. Matteo Politano had opened the scoring in the first minute, while an own goal from Odin Bjortuft completed Napoli’s fourth. Bodo/Glimt twice equalised, through Jens Petter Hauge and Andreas Helmersen, before Sondre Fet added a late consolation.

The result gave Napoli a much-needed European lift after defeats by Arsenal and Villarreal in their opening two Champions League matches. It also marked McTominay’s first goals since returning from his heart operation, underlining the importance of his comeback to Massimiliano Allegri’s midfield. Napoli had entered the match after a 1-0 Serie A defeat at bottom side Venezia on Saturday, a result that prompted Allegri to warn against anxiety and haste. The victory does not erase their uneven start, but McTominay’s contribution provides a significant boost as the club tries to rebuild momentum domestically and in Europe.

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Cesc Fabregas said on Tuesday that Manchester United were not in crisis before Como’s Champions League meeting with the Premier League club on Wednesday. Como, fifth in Serie A with 14 points from seven matches, began their European campaign with a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig before losing 3-2 at Feyenoord last week. They responded by beating Fiorentina 3-1 at the weekend, maintaining an impressive domestic start after rising from Serie B to European football in only a few seasons. Fabregas said he did not believe in crises in football and described such language as something created by journalists.

Fabregas also declined to discuss reports linking him with the Manchester United job, saying that doing so would disrespect Michael Carrick. Como’s coach said the fixture represented another historic day for the club, supporters and city, while insisting his side would approach the match with focus, ambition and humility. The hosts faced new injury concerns involving Jesus Rodriguez and Trevoh Chalobah, but Fabregas maintained that Como would try to win. The game offered Serie A’s ambitious newcomers a high-profile test of the progress that has taken them into the Champions League.

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Nathan Patterson said on Tuesday that he wanted to enjoy football again after joining Torino last month. The Scotland right-back, 25, moved to Italy following more than three years at Everton, where injuries and limited playing time had affected his progress. Patterson said he had “lost myself a little bit” during that period and was looking for a new challenge when the Torino opportunity arose. His move reunited him with international team-mate Che Adams, who scored in Torino’s 3-0 victory over Parma on Monday.

Patterson said Adams’ presence had made the transition easier, describing the forward as a familiar face and “a huge boost”. The defender’s comments highlighted the personal importance of his move as well as its sporting value: regular involvement in Turin would give him an opportunity to rebuild confidence after a difficult spell in England. Torino’s emphatic win over Parma provided an encouraging backdrop, while the relationship with Adams could help Patterson settle quickly into a new league and environment.

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Bologna are reportedly considering a January loan move for Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, according to Football Italia. Di Gregorio joined Bournemouth on loan during the last transfer window after losing his place as Juventus’ first choice, but the move has so far failed to bring regular football. The goalkeeper has reportedly spent the season on the bench in England, prompting Bologna to explore whether he could return to Serie A for the second half of the campaign. The proposed arrangement would give Bologna an opportunity to strengthen their goalkeeping department.

Bologna reportedly view Di Gregorio as a candidate to become their first choice, while the player could use the move to recover the playing time he expected in England. Any deal would depend on negotiations between the clubs and the player’s existing loan situation, so the report represents an early transfer development rather than a confirmed agreement. For Di Gregorio, a return to Italy would offer a route back into competitive action after his change of club failed to establish him as Bournemouth’s regular starter.

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AC Milan are reportedly advancing negotiations to appoint Markus Krösche as the club’s new head of football. World Today Journal reported that talks with the 46-year-old German executive were nearing a final agreement after administrative delays, with financial terms said to have been agreed. Krösche left Eintracht Frankfurt after the German club accepted his resignation, removing a major obstacle to the proposed move. Milan owner Gerry Cardinale was reported to have initiated the push for the executive, who previously worked in German football as both a player and a sporting official.

The appointment would give Milan an experienced figure to oversee football operations as the club continues to shape its sporting structure. Krösche began his post-playing career with Paderborn before later joining Bayer Leverkusen and moving into senior executive roles. The report said administrative finalisation remained the main outstanding step, meaning the move had not yet been presented as official. If completed, his arrival would represent a significant change in Milan’s football leadership and potentially influence recruitment and long-term squad planning.

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Simone Inzaghi has reportedly emerged as a possible Juventus target for next season, according to a report attributed to Sport Mediaset by Goal.com. Juventus’ hierarchy were said to be assessing their options in case Luciano Spalletti’s spell ends if results fail to improve. The speculation followed a 3-0 home defeat by Lazio, a result that intensified scrutiny around the club’s direction. Inzaghi is currently working at Al Hilal, and a return to Serie A would potentially require him to leave the financial benefits of his Saudi Arabian position.

The report said Spalletti still had an opportunity to change the situation, with upcoming Serie A and Europa League fixtures considered decisive. Juventus were also reported to be considering Porto manager Francesco Farioli, suggesting that the club’s planning remained at an exploratory stage rather than reflecting a confirmed managerial change. Inzaghi’s inclusion nevertheless illustrates the pressure created by the Lazio defeat and the expectation that Juventus must recover quickly if Spalletti is to remain in charge beyond the current run.

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