Serie A 2020/21: Napoli vs Genoa – tactical analysis

Matchweek 2 of the Serie A season 2020/21 saw Napoli host Genoa at the San Paolo stadium. In their games from the previous season, Napoli got the better of the two teams, drawing at home and winning away at Genoa. Napoli, playing their first home competitive game since the lockdown, routed Genoa 6-0.

The last time Napoli put six past their opponent, was in season 2017/18 against Benevento Calcio. The kick-off was delayed due to Genoa keeper Mattia Perin tested positive for the coronavirus. Napoli played a strong brand of attacking football to thrash the visitors 6-0, after a successful yet modest scoring first half. The second half saw a drop in intensity for Genoa while Napoli continued their juggernaut tactics to dismantle the Genoa defence.  This tactical analysis brings to light the tactics and plays that both the teams applied in the game. The analysis aims to highlight some of the events that unfolded in the game, which led to the scoreline.

With no Champions League this season, Napoli must hope they play better this time around and battle Juventus for the title. As for Genoa, they must find a way to get away from the relegation zone following last years near escape.

Line-ups

Gennaro Gattuso set his Napoli team up in 4-4-2 tactics; a formation that Napoli found very effective in the previous game against Parma. Alex Meret started in goal with a back four of Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Kostas Manolas and Elseid Hysaj. Fabián Ruiz and Piotr Zieliński started as the two central midfielders along with Hirving Lozano and Lorenzo Insigne providing width in the midfield. Dries Mertens and Victor Osimhen played as the front two for Napoli.

Rolando Maran set his team up in 3-5-2 game tactics, in an attempt to nullify Napolis width in the middle of the park and have three centre-halves to shield the goal. Federico Marchetti started in goal, with a back three of Davide Biraschi, Edoardo Goldaniga and Andrea Masiello. Davide Zappacosta and Luca Pellegrini played as the wingbacks to double up with attacking and defensive duties. The midfield three consisted of Lukas Lerager, Milan Badelj and Miha Zajc. Mattia Destro and Marko Pjaca played in a front two for Genoa.

Defensive Shape: Fluid Napoli vs Rigid Genoa

The first section of the tactical analysis takes a look at both teams off-the-ball shape, and the press tactics used. It is an analysis of how either teams setup in terms of tactics and in terms of their pressing intensity to win the ball back when they were out of possession. It is hard to argue that the result doesnt reflect the true outcome of the game. Genoa held decent possession of the ball and did play some good ball too. But one of the key factors for their thrashing result, was their lack of fluidity in defensive shape and the lack of intensity they showed to win the ball back. This section of the tactical analysis shows how Genoas aforementioned flaws in tactics led to their downfall in the game, without Napoli having to do as much as theyd have expected to.

The first instance is early on in the game when the ball is near the midline. Napoli switches from their starting tactics of 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 in order to press Genoas play and win the ball back. When the ball is in their own third, and they are out of possession, Napoli switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 narrow. By having this fluidity in the defensive shape, it allowed Napoli to balance their press  defence dynamic. Below are some images to support the analysis for Napolis defensive shape fluidity.