This week, we’re dedicating this full column to league leaders Napoli due to their incredible 5-1 victory over Juventus.
By Matteo Bonetti, US Serie A expert
Napoli’s historic night
It was one of Napoli’s greatest moments since the days of Diego Maradona more than three decades ago. On a Friday night in a stadium named after the Napoli legend, the Partenopei put on a performance worthy of Diego’s legacy. It’s hard to overstate just how incredible a 5-1 victory for Napoli is over their biggest rival Juventus. More than just a footballing derby, it’s the old North vs. South battle in Italy. During the 2010s, Juventus’ nine consecutive Scudetti made sure that Napoli’s competitive sides couldn’t reclaim a trophy they hadn’t won since 1990. It was a period when Napoli were always the bridesmaid, never the bride. They were tagged as the anti-Juve, but always fell short at the very end.
This season feels so different. For starters, having a nine point lead at the top of the table is something unprecedented for the current winter champions. Their style of play isn’t just the best in Italy, but one of the most aesthetically pleasing worldwide. Napoli hold the ball for longer than anyone else in Serie A, with an average possession of over 60%. They also press frenetically the second they lose the ball, which often times leads to them winning it straight back and having another long period of uninterrupted passing combinations.
What makes Napoli’s record even more remarkable is how this was supposed to be a rebuilding season for them. After a summer in which the club saw their most influential players leave in every department – Ospina in goal, Koulibaly from the defence, Fabián Ruiz from the midfield and then the two popular attackers Dries Martens and Lorenzo Insigne. Apart from Fabián, the others were older players on expensive contracts who were entering the tail end of their career.
The work that Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli did last summer is one of the finest I’ve seen from a person in his position. To be able to identify younger, low cost solutions from smaller leagues to come in right away and seamlessly transition to Serie A was incredible. The likes of the Korean defender Kim Min-Jae and winger Kvicha Kvaratskhelia have had the most incredible impact right away.
It was once again Kvara as the catalyst in Napoli’s success against Juventus. The Georgian winger had his way for most of the night against Juve’s defender Danilo, especially in the one-on-one situations. Kvara inadvertently set up Victor Osimhen’s first goal by unleashing a bicycle kick that was parried right onto the waiting head of the Nigerian striker. Kvaratskhelia then was on the receiving end of an Osimhen assist, after Juve’s centre-back Bremer made another backbreaking error in his own box which Napoli pounced on. Finally, Kvara curled in a pinpoint cross for Osimhen’s headed brace. A world class performance for a 21-year-old who looked fearless in the biggest Serie A match of his life, a game that could’ve either opened up the Scudetto race with only a four point gap, or extend Napoli’s lead to double digits atop the standings.
The other player who lit up the Stadio Maradona was Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian has finally gone half a season without picking up a serious injury, something that has kept him out for months in the past. What Osimhen has been able to do with continued playing time is look like the best striker in the league. He’s now the current Serie A capocannoniere with 12 goals, including 10 of them coming in the last 10 league matches. Osimhen’s dynamic style has made him virtually unplayable. If the opposing defence plays a high line, the striker will torch them on the counter with his lightning pace and control. If a defence sits back, Osimhen’s accurate heading ability becomes a problem if you force everything wide and allow Napoli to cross it into the box.
On the Juventus end, nothing went right. For a team that had only conceded a league best seven goals all campaign, they nearly doubled that tally with the five Napoli scored past them. It was the ultimate battle between attack and defence, and Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti’s approach made the pragmatic, defensive style of Allegri seem archaic. In hindsight, Juve’s formation was perplexing. Having Federico Chiesa and Filip Kostic play as wingbacks who were rooted deep in their own half defending in a back five seemed like the worst way possible to utilise two natural wingers who do their best work in the final third. What’s even more puzzling is how Juve still seemed content to sit back and apply little pressure when they were down multiple goals. When they finally did show a bit more life, the game was well out of reach. It’s a Juventus system based on keeping a clean sheet rather than piling on the goals, so when the defence looks so utterly poor, it feels like there’s no chance for this team to succeed against such a dynamic attack.
What we’ve learned by now is that Napoli are truly the best side in Serie A. This no longer feels like a midseason fairytale. There’s enough evidence both in European play and domestically that Napoli’s depth and identity is going to lead to continued success. They play the best football and are managed by one of the great offensive minds of the 21st century, the massively underrated Luciano Spalletti. Spalletti’s fearless approach, as seen by his side constantly playing high up the field and pressing even with a four goal lead, shows you just how ruthless this team are. It would be an incredible story for Serie A if Napoli were to lift the Scudetto, and the party in Naples would probably be one heard around the world given the religious passion the Napoletani faithful show for their club.
Closing Notes…
Paulo Dybala scored a fantastic brace to secure Roma a win against Fiorentina, while Mexican keeper Memo Ochoa conceded eight goals as Salernitana got obliterated by Atalanta. Lecce’s unbeaten streak in Serie A is now at six, with wins against Lazio and Atalanta, followed by a 2-2 draw at home against Milan over the weekend.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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