NAPOLI v AC MILAN: OPPONENT REVIEW

With the international break behind us, we're back in league action on matchday 30 of Serie A: on Sunday evening, it'll be Napoli v AC Milan. The Rossoneri have to pick back up in the hunt for the top reaches of the table after the comeback wins over Como and Lecce. On the other hand, Antonio Conte's Napoli need to refind some solidity and consistency from the start of the season given the run in the last seven games: one win, one defeat and five draws. The table is clear: AC Milan are 9th on 47 points whilst the Azzurri are 2nd on 61. However, the draw of this key game remains intact. 

The reverse fixture at San Siro saw Napoli win 2-0, putting in a solid and cynical performance. AC Milan kept hold of the ball for long stretches of play, but Conte's team knew how to make the most of key moments, which is a testament to their efficiency away from home. Despite the results of the last month, the Coach clearly knows how to pull teams into his mentality, based on organisation and pragmatism: with the league still wide open, the Azzurri will want to secure their spot amongst the top sides and fight for the title, just like in 2022/23.

At this point of the season, it is no secret how Napoli play: the low set-up, direct play and lightning-fast restarts allow them to be dangerous on the counter. Despite heading into the final run-in, Conte hasn't settled on a 4-3-3, which has given them defensive solidity in many games, or on a 3-5-2, something he favours. Di Lorenzo and Spinazzola allow them to adapt the set-up based on the required tactics, with the captain often sent to play on the right of the three-man backline.

The meticulous search for the right balance between forward play and sitting deep means this side still has something incomplete, looking for the right combination to solidify the defence. One striking statistic is that the Azzurri, despite having the best defence in Serie A with 23 goals conceded, have not kept a clean sheet in nine games (the last being on January 12 against Hellas Verona): almost two months since they went without conceding, an unprecedented stat for Conte's side. Another surprising statistic concerns the way in which Napoli have been conceding these goals. 9 of the 23 goals have come from outside of the box: that is 40% of goals conceded. This highlights a vulnerability at the back and a difficulty in defending further forwards.

The focal point of play is still Romelu Lukaku: a student of Conte who is having a big impact on the Napoli attack, scoring 10 goals and 8 assists. This last statistic sees him top equal with Nuno Tavares. Physical, fast in open play, the Belgian forward is certainly key in developing the Azzurri moves. Moreover, Lukaku is the Napoli player to have been most caught offside (17), a sign of his constant runs in.

The other key feature in the tactical set-up is Scott McTominay. The former Manchester United player makes a consistent contribution to both phases of play thanks to his athletic abilities: 6 goals and 2 assists, as well as winning 151 duels. At the moment, he is the Napoli player to have attempted the most dribbles (63) and been fouled the most (43), a sign of his offensive skills. Moreover, he sets himself apart in terms of tackles won, confirming his defensive importance, as well as his contribution to breaking up the opposition lines with key passes. Together with Lobotka and Zambo Anguissa, the Scotsman's skills ensure that the Napoli midfield is one of the toughest to face in Serie A. Another challenge for Reijnders and co. to overcome.

The AC Milan PUMA Kits for 2024/25 are available: buy them now!