Napoli Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Meret (1) · Mazzocchi (30) · Rrahmani (13) · Buongiorno (4) · Spinazzola (37) · Lobotka (68) · Anguissa (99) · Di Lorenzo (22) · Politano (21) · Kvaratskhelia (77) · Lukaku (11)

Napoli plays a high press game using a 3-4-3. This lineup is built to win it back high up the pitch and move the ball quickly. The team uses this formation to dominate the middle of the park and create chances through heavy pressure and vertical play.

Meret protects the goal from the back. The defensive unit uses a back three with Buongiorno, Rrahmani, and Di Lorenzo. Buongiorno and Di Lorenzo act as wide centre-backs to cover the flanks when the wing backs push up. Rrahmani sits in the middle as the primary central defender who is dominant in the air. This unit works to hold the line and squeeze the space to prevent the opposition from finding room.

The midfield relies on a double pivot consisting of Lobotka and Anguissa. Lobotka plays as a deep-lying playmaker to recycle possession and connect the defence to the attack. Anguissa is the player who drives forward with the ball to break the line. Spinazzola and Mazzocchi act as attacking wing backs to spread wide and provide width. They help the midfield to move up the pitch and provide constant options for a cross.

In the final third, Napoli uses a lone striker in Lukaku. He acts as a target man to hold up the ball and find the feet of the attackers. Kvaratskhelia and Politano operate as inverted wingers who cut inside to create danger in the half spaces. These three forwards press from the front to force a long ball from the opposition. The team looks to hit in behind on the transition with fast runs in behind.

One major advantage of this formation is the ability to create wide overloads when Spinazzola and Mazzocchi overlap the winger. The team also uses the ability to press high in coordinated waves to win it back high up the pitch. This creates many chances for the attackers to work in one on one situations and exploit the space left behind the opposition defence.

This 3-4-3 formation is built for a high press and vertical play. It is best suited for matches against teams that try to play short from the back and struggle with high intensity.