Napoli Football Formation

Starting Lineup

ALEX (MERET) · COSTANTINO (FAVASULI) · AMIR (RRAHMANI) · SAM (BEUKEMA) · LEONARDO (SPINAZZOLA) · BILLY (GILMOUR) · STANISLAV (LOBOTKA) · ANTONIO (VERGARA) · DAVID (NERES) · ALISSON (SANTOS) · GIOVANE (SANTANA)

Napoli favors a high press and vertical style of football using a 4-3-3 formation. This lineup aims to win the ball high up the pitch and move the ball quickly toward the goal. The team looks to dominate through intensity and direct movements, using the width of the pitch to stretch the opposition.

Alex acts as the last line of defense for Napoli. The defensive unit works as a flat back four with Leonardo playing as the left back and Costantino operating as the right back. In the middle, Sam and Amir form the central defensive pairing, where they must hold the line and cover for each other. Leonardo and Costantino are tasked to push up and provide width, while Sam and Amir focus on defending zonally and protecting the space behind the midfield.

The midfield relies on a three-man midfield with a carrier to link the lines. Antonio plays as the attacking ten behind the striker to connect the midfield and attack. Billy and Stanislav operate in the central areas to win the second ball and drive forward with the ball. Billy and Stanislav must also track back to protect the defense, while Antonio looks to arrive late into the box to score. This group works together to squeeze the space in the center of the pitch.

Napoli uses three attackers across the front to pressure the opposition back line. Giovane acts as the lone striker, tasked to find the feet of the striker and hold up the ball to allow others to join the attack. Alisson and David operate as wide wingers, with Alisson on the left and David on the right. These wingers often cut inside to create central threats, while the formation is designed to create runs in behind and overlaps from the full backs. They press from the front to force a long ball from the opponent.

The main tactical strengths of this formation lie in the ability to press high in coordinated waves and create wide overloads from overlapping full backs. By pushing Leonardo and Costantino forward, Napoli can isolate wide players in one on one situations. This also allows the team to maintain compactness when defending in a mid-block if the initial press is bypassed.

This 4-3-3 formation is built to dominate games through high energy and quick transitions. It is best suited for matches against teams that struggle to play out from the back under pressure.