Napoli Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Carmignani · Vavassori · Burgnich · Bruscolotti · La Palma · Orlandini · Juliano · Vinazzani · Speggiorin · Massa · Chiarugi

Napoli aim to press high and play a vertical style through a 4-3-3 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and hit the opposition quickly. The intent is to push the defensive line high and use the width of the pitch to stretch the defence.

Carmignani stays between the posts to manage the defensive unit. The back four consists of Bruscolotti at right back and La Palma at left back, both tasked to overlap the winger when the team has the ball. Burgnich and Vavassori act as the central defenders, working together to hold the line and cover for the advancing full backs. Burgnich and Vavassori work to maintain a high line and squeeze the space when the opposition carries the ball forward. The unit must stay compact to avoid being caught on the break.

In the center of the pitch, Juliano plays as a single pivot to shield the defence and recycle possession. Orlandini and Vinazzani operate as the two interior midfielders to connect the defensive and attacking lines. Juliano sits deep to collect the ball from the centre-backs, while Orlandini and Vinazzani drive forward with the ball to enter the final third. These two midfielders must track back to help the full backs and win the second ball in the middle of the pitch.

The attacking front line features Chiarugi as the lone striker to lead the press from the front. Speggiorin and Massa play as wide wingers on the left and right flanks. These players look to hug the touchline to spread the width of the pitch, creating space for the interior midfielders to arrive late into the box. Chiarugi works to hold up the ball and find the feet of the oncoming runners. The team looks to attack in combinations through the half spaces or via quick transitions.

Napoli gain a major advantage through the ability to create wide overloads from the overlapping runs of Bruscolotti and La Palma. This movement forces the opposition to shift and leaves gaps for the wingers to exploit. Another strength is the ability to press in coordinated waves, with Chiarugi, Speggiorin, and Massa triggering the initial press. This high pressure can force a long ball and allow the midfield to intercept the play.

This 4-3-3 formation is built for a team that wants to control the game through high intensity and rapid transitions. It is best suited for matches against teams that struggle to play out from the back under pressure.