Serie A 2019/20: Napoli vs AC Milan – tactical analysis

Napoli and Milan met in Serie A this weekend with both sides looking to keep their Europa League places secure. This tactical analysis will look at the tactics both teams used in their attempt to pick up the three points and continue the good form that both teams have shown since the resumption. It was Atalanta that all but ended Napoli’s hopes of Champions League football next season with a 2-0 win over the Partenopei in last week, however, Milan are one of the form teams in Serie A right now after wins over Lazio and Juventus over the last week with some fluid attacking football and the return of Zlatan Ibrahimović netting them seven goals against the top two. Meanwhile, Reno Gattuso’s men nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions came to an end at Atalanta but, during which they won the Coppa Italia, creating a safety net for Napoli with a guaranteed Europa League spot. Gattuso’s men rebounded well with good wins over Roma and Genoa in their last two matches as the fixtures continue to come thick and fast.

Game context

In their last encounter in Serie A back in November 2019, these two sides played out a tight game in Milan resulting in a 1-1 draw. Napoli switched into their 4-4-2 shape, which is a regular twist that day while Milan set up in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 shape with Giacomo Bonaventura’s excellent strike from outside the box cancelling out Hirving Lozano’s earlier header. With only two points separating the two sides and Napoli already guaranteed European football next season, this game is a significant match-up for Milan to continue their push for a Europa League place.

Lineups

For Gattuso and Napoli, it is more of the same with the team he selected in their 4-3-3 shape for this game. The player rotations are almost robotic in the tight turnaround of games and this game was no different. It shows the togetherness of the squad and the man-management of Gattuso with his players that the is no significant drop-off in performance regardless of which players start each game recently. Mario Rui continued at leftback while Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Kalidou Koulibaly came back into the back four after sitting out against Genoa. Fabian Ruiz and Stanislav Labotka continued in midfield but were partnered by Piotr Zielinski for this game. Dries Mertens lead the line alongside the ever-present Lorenzo Insigne with Jose Callejon coming back into the side.

For Milan, Ibrahimović continued as the focal point in the top line in their 4-2-3-1 as he did against Juventus. Hakan Çalhanoğlu came back into the side underneath him as the only change from the side that beat Juventus last time out.