Serie A 2021/22: How Napoli and Roma both looked to exploit space in the Derby de Sole – tactical analysis

Monday night’s 1-1 draw between Napoli and Roma in the Derby del Sole was the result neither side hoped for.

Roma came into the game full of confidence having lost only once in nine Serie A games and overturning a first-leg defeat to Bodo/glimt to qualify for the Europa Conference League Semi-Final. With Juventus dropping points in their draw against Bologna on Saturday. The Derby del Sole presented a fantastic opportunity for the Giallorossi to close the gap to just three points in the race for the final Champions Leagues qualifying place

Napoli needed the three points to maintain their title challenge as both Inter and Milan had sealed victories over the weekend. With last weekend’s disappointing defeat to Fiorentina and the added pressure of Inter still having one game in hand. A victory would in this game have presented a huge confidence boost going into what is a favourable run of fixtures for the Partenopei.

This tactical analysis provides an examination of the key tactics deployed by both Napoli and Roma in a match that both sides could have won. We will focus on the attacking tactics and strategy that Jose Mourinho and Luciano Spalletti both implemented in their attempt to win the game.

Tactical approach

With Giovanni Di Lorenzo still injured Alessandro Zanoli kept his place at right full-back for Napoli. Luciano Spalletti made changes following the defeat from Fiorentina. Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa returned to the starting line-up in place of Piotr Zielinski and Hirving Lozano started in place of Matteo Politano.

Napoli approached the game with their usual 4-3-3. With Anguissa returning to the team it gave Napoli more defensive structure when they were out of possession, enabling the team to transition between pressing high in a 4-1-4-1 or sitting in a medium block with a double pivot of Anguissa and Lobotka.