Napoli Football Formation

Starting Lineup

A. Meret · A. Buongiorno · A. Rrahmani · M. Skriniar · A. Zambo Anguissa · K. De Bruyne · G. Di Lorenzo · L. Spinazzola · R. Lukaku · F. Chiesa · R. De Paul

Napoli aim to control the tempo of the game through a high press and quick verticality. This identity is built around a 3-5-2 formation that prioritizes control of the middle of the pitch. By using this lineup, the team seeks to dominate the ball and use wide areas to stretch the opposition.

A. Meret stays between the posts to manage the defensive line. The back three consists of A. Rrahmani, A. Buongiorno, and M. Skriniar. Rrahmani acts as a dominant presence in the air while Skriniar provides cover and ability to play out from the back. Buongiorno works as a wide centre-back to manage the space between the middle and the flanks. The unit works to maintain a high line and squeeze the space to win it back high up the pitch.

The midfield is a five man unit designed to congest the center. K. De Bruyne plays as an attacking ten behind the strikers to provide vision and passing range. In the deeper roles, R. De Paul and A. Zambo Anguissa form a double pivot to shield the defense and recycle possession. The wide midfielders, L. Spinazzola and G. Di Lorenzo, act as attacking wing backs. They push high to provide width and cross the ball into the box, while also tracking back to help the defenders when the team loses the ball.

Napoli use two forwards in a partnership to pressure the opposition back line. R. Lukaku acts as a target man to hold up the ball and bring others into play. F. Chiesa plays as a second striker, using his pace to make runs in behind and find space between the lines. This front two works to pin the last defender and create space for K. De Bruyne to arrive late into the box. The team attacks in combinations, often using the width of the wing backs to create overloads before delivering a ball into the center.

This formation offers significant tactical advantages. The presence of a double pivot with K. De Bruyne allows for numerical superiority in midfield. The attacking wing backs of L. Spinazzola and G. Di Lorenzo create wide overloads that force the opposition to stretch. This creates space for the central players to combine in tight spaces and play through the lines.

The 3-5-2 formation allows Napoli to control the central areas while remaining dangerous on the break. It is a setup best suited for games against teams that sit deep and require constant width to break them down.