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In Focus: Pacesetters Napoli can stay the distance in Serie A title race
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Matthew Storey
LiveScore
Napoli players celebrate as they continue their winning run to start the season
Napoli players celebrate as they continue their winning run to start the season

Napoli have started the 2021-22 season like a team on a mission.

Under new boss Luciano Spalletti, they have won all seven Serie A games and look set to challenge for the title.

But Gli Azzurri have not won the Scudetto since club icon Diego Maradona starred in the 1989-1990 campaign.

So is this the year Napoli end their long wait for domestic success?

The new man

The appointment of Spalletti has proven a masterstroke.

Two years after he left Inter Milan, Spalletti was brought back out of the wilderness by outspoken owner Aurelio De Laurentiis.

It was not met with widespread joy but the 62-year-old has quickly gone about building a relationship with the fans and using their return to fire up his team.

Last month, De Laurentiis said: "Spalletti is a super coach and is never offended, unlike other coaches. 

"I am really happy for this start, I have to congratulate Spalletti who is a very neat, diligent man, who manages things firmly, makes the team play very well and is not offended and has no ego when I ask him for some clarification."

Luciano Spalletti has Napoli sitting at the top of Serie A after a stunning start to the campaign
Luciano Spalletti has Napoli sitting at the top of Serie A after a stunning start to the campaign

Firing at both ends

Spalletti has been using a 4-2-3-1 formation at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium — something not widely seen in Serie A.

And it has worked a treat with his side firing at both ends.

They have only shipped three goals in seven league games with Kalidou Koulibaly back to his best at the heart of defence after struggling at times last campaign.

The 4.29 shots they concede from inside the box per 90 mins is the lowest in the Italian top flight.

Going forward, only Inter Milan (22) have scored more than their 18 goals and Roma are the only team to top their 16.43 shots per game.

They can be easy on the eye, with no team attempting or completing more passes into the final third than Spalletti’s men, yet they have also netted an impressive seven goals from set-pieces.

A star is born

The star of the show has undoubtedly been 22-year-old striker Victor Osimhen.

After netting 10 times in a disjointed first campaign in Naples, the £70million signing is lighting up Serie A this time around.

Despite missing the second game of the season due to a red card after 23 minutes of the season opener against Venezia, Osimhen has netted four goals in six games.

He has pace to burn and shows football intelligence with the way he uses his body to manipulate defenders.

Former Italy striker and AC Milan sporting director Ariedo Braida has compared him to George Weah.

Braida said: "The comparison between Osimhen and Weah is not risky even if he is technically less clean.

"He has to work on the technique because he already has speed while the technique can be learned over time.

"If he improves in this, he can really explode, but I am convinced that by working with someone like Spalletti, he will make the leap in quality."

Victor Osimhen has netted four goals in six games for Napoli
Victor Osimhen has netted four goals in six games for Napoli

Increased expectations

Expectations are growing quickly at Napoli as a result of their start.

After finishing fifth and missing out on the Champions League in 2020-21, they are now being talked about as genuine title contenders.

Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro said: "This Napoli side are solid. They can win the Scudetto. But beware of the two sides from Milan.

"Spalletti’s team look like a wall at times and have different solutions. [Victor] Osimhen was thought to be a crazy horse, but in the box he knows how to hurt the opponents.

"Never rule out Juventus, they know how to manage the difficult moments and will be able to return."

Focus in Naples

As the hype builds up outside the club, those in the side are trying to keep a lid on expectations.

Victories over Juventus and a come-from-behind win at a dangerous Fiorentina side last time out suggest this is no flash in the pan.

Skipper Lorenzo Insigne, who was one of Italy’s stars at Euro 2020 and has carried that form into the domestic season, reminded his team-mates ahead of the international break.

Insigne said: "We've started well, but we need to keep our heads down, our feet on the ground, because it's a very, very long road ahead.

"It's an incredible feeling [with the fans], I am trying to enjoy it and repay everyone with my performances and helping the team to win the games."

Games against Torino and Roma in the coming weeks will test Spalletti’s side further.

If they can come through the period before the next international break still unbeaten, even the players may talk about the title returning to Naples.

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SSC NapoliSerie A
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