Napoli Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Pugliese · Caucci · Eletto · Garofalo · Olivieri · De Chiara · Prisco · Torre · Gorica · Raggioli · Borriello

A high pressing and vertical identity defines Napoli and their 3-4-3 formation. This lineup seeks to win the ball high up the pitch and move it forward quickly to exploit gaps in the opposition. By staying compact in the middle and wide in the final third, the team aims to control games through heavy pressure and rapid transitions.

Pugliese stands between the posts to direct the defensive unit. Ahead of him, a back three consisting of Eletto, Garofalo, and Caucci maintains a high line to compress the playing area. Garofalo and Caucci act as the wide center backs, ready to cover the channels when the wing backs push forward. Eletto holds the center, making sure to block runs through the middle. The defensive unit works to step up in unison to catch attackers offside or intercept passes before they reach the final third.

The midfield works in a flat four to control the central and wide areas of the pitch. De Chiara and Prisco occupy the central roles, where they must shield the defense and break the lines with vertical passes. They act as the engine room, connecting the defenders to the front line. On the flanks, Torre and Olivieri operate as wing backs, providing the necessary width. They are tasked with tracking back to support the back three while also being ready to overlap and provide crosses into the box.

In the attacking phase, Napoli employs three attackers to stretch the opposition. Borriello and Gorica stay wide as wingers, looking to cut inside or hit the byline to deliver balls into the area. Raggioli acts as the lone striker, tasked to hold up the ball and bring the wingers into play. This front line is designed to press the opposition defenders immediately upon losing possession, forcing mistakes close to the opponent's goal.

Napoli possesses several tactical advantages with this formation. The presence of Torre and Olivieri allows for wide overloads, creating situations where the wing backs can outnumber opposing full backs. Another strength is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, using the front three and the midfield four to suffocate the opponent. This makes it very difficult for the opposition to build play from the back.

This 3-4-3 formation provides a powerful platform for aggressive, attacking football. It is best suited for games where the team needs to dominate possession and force a high turnover rate against mid-block opponents.