Napoli Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Alex Meret · Sam Beukema · Alessandro Buongiorno · Miguel Gutiérrez · Giovanni Di Lorenzo · Scott McTominay · Stanislav Lobotka · Kevin De Bruyne · Frank Anguissa · Noa Lang · Rasmus Højlund

Napoli looks to control the tempo and dictate play through a high press and a 4-3-3 formation. This lineup is built to dominate possession and use aggressive movement to break down opponents. By keeping the ball in the middle thirds, the team can dictate where the game is played and force the opposition into mistakes.

Alex Meret plays behind a flat back four that aims to squeeze the space as high up the pitch as possible. Giovanni Di Lorenzo acts as the right back, providing width while Sam Beukema and Alessandro Buongiorno operate as the central pair. Buongiorno is dominant in the air and provides a strong presence to win the second ball, while Beukema covers the space behind to maintain the defensive line. Miguel Gutiérrez plays as the left back, looking to overlap the winger to create extra numbers in the final third.

A three-man midfield manages the transition from defence to attack. Stanislav Lobotka sits as the single pivot, where he drops between the centre-backs to receive and recycle possession. Frank Angguissa acts as the left eight, driving forward with the ball to connect the lines, while Scott McTominay operates on the right. McTominay is known for his late runs into the box and his ability to press aggressively to win the ball back. This trio ensures the midfield remains compact when defending in a mid-block.

The attack relies on three players to stretch the defence and pin the last defender. Rasmus Højlund acts as the central striker, working to hold up the ball and find the feet of his teammates. On the wings, Noa Lang and Kevin De Bruyne provide the service. De Bruyne is renowned for his incredible passing range and ability to play through the lines. While Noa Lang looks to cut inside from the left, De Bruyne can drift from the right to find pockets of space. They use combinations to create runs in behind or deliver early crosses into the area.

Napoli benefits from significant numerical superiority in the midfield when they move the ball quickly. The ability to use overlapping full backs like Miguel Gutiérrez creates wide overloads that pull the opposition out of position. Furthermore, the team can press in coordinated waves, using the front three to trigger a press that forces the opponent to play long.

This 4-3-3 formation provides a strong balance of control and verticality. It is best suited for matches against teams that sit deep and allow Napoli to use their passing range to break the lines.