The Scudetto deciders are coming thick and fast.
Last week, AC Milan beat Inter in the Milan Derby. This weekend, league leaders Roma host defending champions Napoli. Just three points separate the top five heading into gameweek 13.
In this article, we’ll cover:
For Napoli, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Antonio Conte’s side can ill-afford to fall five points behind Roma in the race for the title. Gian Piero Gasperini has made a fine impact having succeeded Claudio Ranieri at the Olimpico. The three-man backline that delivered success for Atalanta is having the desired effect for the capital outfit.
Three-man backline a favourite for Scudetto challengers
Roma aren’t the only side to implement a similar setup of those chasing the Scudetto. Christian Chivu is continuing with a 3-5-2 system that delivered Simone Inzaghi success.
And you better believe Conte has returned to his tried and tested system in a bid to get Napoli’s title pursuit back on track. The Napoli boss favoured a 4-3-3 formation last season. It was a system that delivered the title, so it made sense to continue with the setup this time around.
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However, the 2-0 loss to Bologna saw Conte rid Napoli of the four-man backline. Defeat marked a third successive game the Partenopei had failed to score in. The 56-year-old had some harsh words for his players following the reverse at the Renato Dall’Ara. “I don’t want to accompany a dead man,” was the choice phrase from Conte following the loss. There were murmurings of a resignation doing the rounds post-Bologna clash.
Over the international break, Conte took some time off as assistant Cristian Stellini took training sessions. The time away from the training pitch gave Conte food for thought. And the obvious answer was to revert to his tried-and-tested three-man backline.
Conte reverted to tried-and-tested system
Conte essentially fought fire with fire for last weekend’s 3-1 win over Atalanta. Incoming La Dea boss Raffaele Palladino continued with a three-man defence but the 2024 Europa League winners struggled to contain Napoli. A David Neres brace and a Noa Lang strike meant the match was settled as a contest by the break.
The Napoli boss continued with the system for the midweek 2-0 win over Qarabag. Back among the goals and back to winning ways, Conte is unlikely to divert from the formation again any time soon.
In part, the reason he switched tactics was due to player absences. Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour and Frank Anguissa are all currently injured, leaving Conte short of central midfielders. Scott McTominay has partnered Stanislav Lobotka in the middle of the park in both post-international break victories. Eljif Elmas is Napoli’s only other midfield option at present.
In truth, though, it’s a system that is far more compatible for the players at Conte’s disposal. Napoli have a plethora of centre-backs on the backs and attack-minded wing-backs in Giovanni Di Lorenzo on the right, and one of Leonardo Spinazzola, Miguel Oliveira, or summer signing Miguel Gutierrez down the left. The appeal of a four-man defence was understandable when Conte had the luxury of a fully fit squad.
Napoli look settled in a three-man backline
Additional tactical confusion was another reason behind the slump. However, having since returned to his favoured three-man defence, Napoli look a far more threatening outfit. Admittedly, wins over a dysfunctional Atalanta and European minnows Qarabag doesn’t ultimately suggest Napoli have turned a corner. It is, however, very much a step in the right direction.
The use of wing-backs provides additional defensive resolve, allowing for Napoli to alternate between three at the back and five at the back. The additional protection means Conte is unlikely to revert to the 4-3-3 fans saw so frequently last season, especially with the number of central midfielders missing.
So what does this mean for Sunday’s game at Roma? Well, Gasperini is also expected to continue with a three-man defence. Roma boast the best defensive record in the division having conceded just six times, meaning the 67-year-old is unlikely to tinker his tactics against Napoli.
The issue will be that Roma have the midfield superiority. With a 3-4-2-1 Gasperini’s go-to, the capital outfit can add an extra man into the middle of the park to dictate the tempo and exploit Napoli’s midfield shortcomings. Conte can always through Elmas into the mix to tighten up but with the ongoing crisis; it’s a risk he may not be willing to take.
Even so, it was an unfortunate stroke of luck that saw Conte revert to a three-man defence. Injuries to key midfielders would be enough to wreck any team’s season. For Napoli, it may have just saved theirs.