Retro Analysis: What made Sarri’s Napoli so special [THREAD]
#Napoli completely outplayed Benevento at home with a 6-0 victory back in 2017, registering 27 shots and having 72% possession. I’ll use this game as a case study to understand Napoli’s brilliance under Maurizio Sarri.
#Napoli completely outplayed Benevento at home with a 6-0 victory back in 2017, registering 27 shots and having 72% possession. I’ll use this game as a case study to understand Napoli’s brilliance under Maurizio Sarri.
![Retro Analysis: What made Sarri’s Napoli so special [THREAD]
#Napoli completely outplayed Benevento...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzeXtvJWYAYQhkY.jpg)
Starting with the line-up, Napoli set up in a 4-3-3 in possession using deep fullbacks, a compact midfield three and wide wingers. Benevento defended in a passive 4-4-2 mid to low block.
- Attracting pressure:
Napoli regularly made use of short passes and backwards passes to invite the opponent into pressing and open spaces to progress. Moreover, they frequently played into teammates purposefully with a “negative” body orientation, which again enticed pressure.
Napoli regularly made use of short passes and backwards passes to invite the opponent into pressing and open spaces to progress. Moreover, they frequently played into teammates purposefully with a “negative” body orientation, which again enticed pressure.
- Combination play:
Sarri’s Napoli is well-known for their quick passing combinations. The Neapolitans continuously combined their way out of tight situations, used different passing patterns to find a player with a forward-facing view and progressed play.
Sarri’s Napoli is well-known for their quick passing combinations. The Neapolitans continuously combined their way out of tight situations, used different passing patterns to find a player with a forward-facing view and progressed play.
- Jorginho’s importance:
The Italian 6 was extremely vital for Napoli’s in possession play. Jorginho regularly shifted horizontally, supporting the wide areas to find another player from this different angle, switch the point of attack or play line-breaking passes.
The Italian 6 was extremely vital for Napoli’s in possession play. Jorginho regularly shifted horizontally, supporting the wide areas to find another player from this different angle, switch the point of attack or play line-breaking passes.
- Wide triangles/overloads:
Napoli frequently broke through the wide areas with their fullbacks, 8s and wingers. This was done by creating triangles, executing different rotations, or simply overloading the wing. The left side especially was very flexible against Benevento.
Napoli frequently broke through the wide areas with their fullbacks, 8s and wingers. This was done by creating triangles, executing different rotations, or simply overloading the wing. The left side especially was very flexible against Benevento.
- Blind-side movements:
Their runs behind the opposition’s back were very threatening in the final third to attack crosses and create chances. Key was the right timing to ensure that the runner broke through with a dynamical advantage.
Their runs behind the opposition’s back were very threatening in the final third to attack crosses and create chances. Key was the right timing to ensure that the runner broke through with a dynamical advantage.
Conclusion:
Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli was a truly memorable side and I hope I could give you a little insight into their beautiful football. Lastly, I can recommend to you this video, which contains some nice clips from their game against Benevento:
youtube.com
Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli was a truly memorable side and I hope I could give you a little insight into their beautiful football. Lastly, I can recommend to you this video, which contains some nice clips from their game against Benevento:
youtube.com
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