AS Roma Vs Napoli [0–1] – Serie A 2025/2026: How Antonio Conte Tactical Tweaks Won Derby Del Sole – Tactical Analysis

The 13th fixture of Serie A ended with a decisive narrow 0-1 win for Napoli against Roma in the Derby del Sole.

It was one of the most important editions of Derby del Sole, as the match came at a time when both teams were at the top of the Serie A standings and were actually battling for the top four spots alongside AC Milan and Inter Milan.

Over the last few years, Napoli have been battling for these spots, but Roma have failed to get close, as they’ve been struggling with various issues and posting poor results.

This season, Roma have been able to create a happy surprise for their fans and Serie A fans in general by putting on some very convincing performances, keeping up with the other top teams at the top of the standings.

This frustrating home loss to Napoli will see Roma lose the advantage for the top spot, as AC Milan take first, leaving Napoli second.

Nevertheless, Roma are still well in the race.

For Napoli, the team have exploited the latest international break well as they came back from it much stronger and more united, especially with Antonio Conte tactical tweaks and reliance on some new names to lead the attacking line.

Conte’s tactical changes helped Napoli get back to winning ways, as they have won all three games since the international break.

The difficult win against Roma can only consolidate the team’s recent positive results and push them into playing the next game against Juventus with high confidence and motivation levels.

The tactical analysis will mainly focus on Napoli’s attacking performance and how they exploited Roma’s defensive weaknesses to score the single goal of the match and get closer to scoring other goals.

Roma Vs Napoli Formations & Lineups

Gian Piero Gasperini started the match in his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mile Svilar in goal, and a defensive line of three centre-backs: Gianluca Mancini on the right, Evan Ndicka in the centre, and Mario Hermoso on the left.

The midfield line was composed of Zeki Çelik and Wesley França as right and left wing-backs, with Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné as central midfielders.

In attack, Gasperini used both Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini as advanced playmakers, often as wingers, with Evan Ferguson as the main striker.

Gasperini chose to rest Paulo Dybala and Leon Bailey and rely on Soulé on the right wing while subbing both players in during the second half to play as wingers behind Tommaso Baldanzi, who was used as a striker since the start of the second half.

On the other hand, Conte opted for the 3-4-3 formation with Vanja Milinković-Savić as goalkeeper, and a defensive line of Sam Beukema, Alessandro Buongiorno, and Amir Rrahmani.

The midfield featured Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay as central midfielders, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Mathías Olivera as wing-backs, with David Neres and Noa Lang being the starting wingers once again following their latest convincing performances, alongside the main striker, Rasmus Højlund.

Napoli Explosive Attacking Transitions

Since the Derby del Sud saw both teams rely heavily on man-marking, it was difficult to create numerical superiority.

Napoli relied on their attacking players’ individual dribbling skills, especially in the wide areas where there were fewer Roma players.

But more importantly, their plan was to rely on quick through or long passes to one of the attacking three in order to exploit Roma’s high defensive block and get one of Napoli’s players to find himself in a one-vs-one duel with the goalkeeper.

And since the beginning of the match, Napoli threatened Roma with such attempts and got very close to scoring if not for Svilar’s very attentive and crucial interventions outside his zone and outside the box.

Napoli Noa Lang & David Neres-Centred Attacking Transitions

One of the most dangerous opportunities that highlight Napoli’s dangerous and very quick counterattacks was Lang’s attempt at the eighth minute.

The action was born following Ndicka’s wrong header, which got the ball to Neres.

Neres was intelligent and reactive enough to notice Roma’s very advanced defensive-line positioning and to automatically provide a first-time key long pass in space to Lang.

The latter followed the line-breaking pass and reached the ball, but due to Svilar’s quick advance to save the situation, Lang was unable to handle the ball effectively.

In fact, Lang could have done better on this occasion as he reached the ball before Svilar and could have lobbed it following its first bounce.

However, Lang did not notice Svilar’s advancing beforehand and was therefore unable to surprise him with a lobbed shot following the first bounce.

At the same time, letting the ball bounce obliged Lang to face Svilar and be unable to touch the ball despite his attempt.

Furthermore, fearing a dangerous contact and keeping his eyes on Svilar, he lost a bit of concentration and missed his shot as he tried to lift his foot and lob the ball, but was unable to do so.

Despite the miss, this chance illustrates Napoli’s attacking intentions regarding the way they wanted to play against Roma.

It also stresses the efficiency of the new Lang-Neres wingers’ duo and how both players are becoming extremely useful and central to Napoli’s quick counterattacking plans.

Both players are getting along better after each game, as the chemistry between them is becoming increasingly noticeable and decisive for Napoli in the attacking phase.

Rasmus Højlund Final Passing

Napoli created more than one dangerous opportunity in the first half, mainly thanks to their quick attacking transitions and reliance on the wings to advance.

Both Di Lorenzo and Olivera were dynamic enough to make the link between the defence and the two wingers.

And on some occasions, they were even capable of serving Højlund towards the box following the latter’s inviting run without the ball.

Højlund was good enough with his movements as he has attracted two defenders most of the time and was able to get several passes inside the final third and create the needed danger.

However, he lacked passing intelligence and awareness of his teammates’ positioning on some of these occasions.

During this action, Di Lorenzo’s work on the right flank was valuable as he advanced with remarkable pace following an interception in Napoli’s half.

Højlund’s movement without the ball made Di Lorenzo provide him a through pass in space, to which Højlund used his body to get to while avoiding his markers’ disturbance.

He was also able to turn and fix his direct opponent, but at the moment of passing, he chose the wrong option, despite Olivera being in a more suitable position.

This led to a wrong pass being intercepted, mainly because Højlund’s pass lacked quality and accuracy, as it was aimed at the wrong destination.

The action could have been much more dangerous if Højlund passed the ball successfully to Olivera, as that pass would have been very inviting for a powerful shot from distance.

David Neres Movements Inside The Final Third & Wing-Backs/Defenders Penetrations

In addition to Højlund’s efforts inside the box, Napoli attacked with remarkable variety and were capable of confusing Roma’s defensive line even before scoring their first goal.

This was done thanks to the frequent attacking advances of Olivera and Di Lorenzo, who were often present in the final third, alternating between advancing from wide positions and from more central positions.

That helped Napoli attack with more numbers without necessarily being exposed at the back, since most Napoli players retreated quickly and ensured they did not concede dangerous counterattacks.

Furthermore, the cautious approach of defenders towards the box added further problems for Roma’s defensive lines, as it obliged them to mark players who were not supposed to play in that area.

Napoli exploited the confusion created on such occasions and added to it by using two wingers on one side during some attacks, guaranteeing numerical superiority and making the most of the excellent chemistry between Neres and Lang.

The following example illustrates what Napoli tried to do to disturb Roma inside their own penalty box: Neres went to the left wing alongside Lang, Buongiorno advanced into the box and drew a defender, and Di Lorenzo advanced to the far post to potentially be at the receiving end of a Neres cross.

These numerous positional changes in a single attacking action highlight Napoli’s attacking variety and their ability to create threats despite Roma’s very organised defence.

In this action, Neres successfully crossed the ball to Di Lorenzo, who volleyed inches from goal, exploiting França’s passive defending and a mistimed anticipation attempt.

If his shot had gone in, the action would have been a perfect example of how the calculated freedom Conte allowed his players in terms of positioning upfront can lead to crucial numerical superiority and eventually to goals.

David Neres Exploitation Of Roma Advanced Defence & Weaknesses In Duels

Napoli’s goal action exposed Roma’s defensive weaknesses and showed the way to scoring against them.

Roma’s risk-taking in this match was very dangerous, and despite conceding a few dangerous counterattacks beforehand, Gasperini did not change his tactics, as he is known for a progressive, attacking style of football.

However, adaptation was key during such moments, and playing with a lower defensive block in the right instances would not have affected Roma, especially given that the opponent had some very dangerous and reliable attacking players.

Roma fell into the trap of trying to score at the expense of defending, losing the ball inside Napoli’s own penalty box but failing to retreat quickly.

Neres’ pace made the difference in this action as he advanced with the ball, played a one-two with Højlund to quickly get away from Cristante, then moved into the box, with Roma’s players unable to catch him given the athletic differences.

Roma did not expect such dangerous attacking transitions from Napoli and did not prepare plans to defend against the explosive penetrations of Neres or Lang, and that cost them the three points in this match.

Conclusion

Apart from a few desperate chances and a late Baldanzi dangerous shot that could have been scored if not for the save of Milinković-Savić, Roma’s attacking performance was not good enough in this match, and that’s because Napoli defended well and did not advance a lot.

Napoli’s reliance on counter-attacking and on their wingers and wing-backs to break Roma’s defensive line was effective, and the Giallorossi helped them further because they used a high defensive block with slow players.