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Defense looking thin as Dynamo Moscow squad named

Napoli's best defender is out, and at least three others are at less than 100% heading in to this vital match.

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Napoli fans are going to be praying for no injuries on the back line on Thursday in Russia, because right now, the squad just can't take it.

Kalidou Koulibaly is out, Camilo Zuniga is still rebuilding his fitness, and several other defenders are banged up to varying degrees, making the already-difficult prospect of holding their two-goal lead against Dynamo Moscow all the harder. Neither Miguel Britos or Christian Maggio are fully fit thanks to their own recent injuries, but both are likely to be forced to start simply for a lack of better options. Meanwhile, Faouzi Ghoulam is in the corner chugging coffee straight from the pot to fight off fatigue.

Yeah, this is going to be fun.

Walter Gargano is also still out with his injury, and Lorenzo Insigne was apparently deemed sufficiently unlikely to contribute that he didn't travel. Ivan Strinic is also hurt, but isn't registered for the Europa League anyways because he's cap-tied to Dnipro. The full 20 man travelling and matchday squad is below.

Goalkeepers: Rafael Cabral, Mariano Andujar, Nikita Contini

Defenders: Giandomenico Mesto, Christian Maggio, Camilo Zuniga, Faouzi Ghoulam, Miguel Britos, Raul Albiol, Henrique

Midfielders: Jorginho, David Lopez, Gokhan Inler, Dries Mertens, Marek Hamsik, Jonathan De Guzman

Forwards: Manolo Gabbiadini, Jose Callejon, Duvan Zapata, Gonzalo Higuain