Luciano Spallettis side started last season off in excellent form, going unbeaten in the first 12 games. They were a free-flowing side scoring 24 goals whilst only conceding 4 times. Everything started to fall apart after injuries hit and form began to go downhill. However, this is a new and fresh start to the campaign.
Napoli have let go of some key players, though they have done some excellent business to replace those players with younger players with a higher ceiling than those before. Exciting signings such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Min-jae Kim, Mathias Olivera, Giacomo Raspadori, Leo Ostigard, Giovanni Simeone, Tanguy Ndombele and Salvatore Sirigu have all come in to rejuvenate the squad, and improve their depth upon their return to UEFA Champions League football.
This tactical analysis will come in a form of a scout report to explain the tactics behind Napolis strong start to the season both in attack and defence. This analysis will show how Napoli have been superior in every facet of play, the reasons behind it and what we can expect from Napoli by the end of the season.
Lineups and playing style
Napoli have maintained their 4-3-3 from last season, with a focus on keeping specific profiles in key roles. Gli Azzurri have demonstrated their philosophy in the first two matches of the season, and it may be something that we see more commonly in the future. They have scored 9 goals in 2 games and have been a dominant force in the league.
In their first two games, Napoli had 54% and 66% possession and, while they dominated the ball, the first half was even more dominant in both games. Napoli had 63% and 80% possession in the first half in each, but with the Blues holding heavy leads at half-time, Napoli had a relaxed mentality and sat back as their opponents chased the game. The image below shows Napolis formation and starting lineups, which remained the same for both matches.
In the Serie A, Napoli havent been extremely tested so far, with both teams preferring to sit back and block space rather than trying to force their opponents into a mistake. As a result, Napoli havent spent much time on the build up, but rather on how to progress the ball from the middle to the final third. This pass map below shows the common passing patterns from Napolis game against Monza.
