Talking Tactics: Napoli's title credentials are solid as a rock

Napoli dropped points in Serie A for the first time this season last Sunday — but their impenetrable rearguard continues to strike fear into forwards across Italy.

The Partenopei played out a goalless draw with Roma after registering eight straight Serie A victories — keeping a fifth clean sheet in six matches.

Only Genoa, Juventus and Fiorentina have breached their backline in the league, with each team finding the net just once against Luciano Spalletti’s side.

A Napoli prepare to take on Bologna tonight, we take a look at how they could be laying the foundations for a first title triumph since 1989-90.

A settled back four

Spalletti, 62, has used the same back four for the six games since Amir Rrahmani replaced Kostas Manolas as the right-sided centre-back.

Together, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kalidou Koulibaly and Mario Rui have formed a rock-solid wall in front of goalkeeper David Ospina, who has had to face just 14 shots on target across those fixtures.

Based on that recent recent evidence, it would appear continuity breeds consistency.

Goals not expected

The fact Napoli have conceded just the three goals from 6.8 expected goals against (xGA) can partly be put down to a combination of wastefulness and bad luck from their opponents. 

But the underlying numbers still paint their defence as the best in the division.

That total of 6.8 xGA is the lowest in the league — as is their 5.4 xGA from open play — while only Roma (1.3) have conceded fewer xG from set-pieces than Napoli’s 1.4.

Whether those numbers are sustainable remains to be seen but the signs at this early stage are certainly very encouraging.

Keeping Koulibaly

For a while, it felt like a matter of when and not if Koulibaly made a mega-money move to one of Europe’s biggest hitters — with a £100million price tag touted around as recently as January.

The Senegal captain has established himself as one of the game’s top centre-backs since joining Napoli from Genk seven years ago.

But that would have been an eye-watering amount to pay for a player who turned 30 in June — and it seems that any would-be suitors may have been put off.

Yet their loss is Napoli’s gain as the Partenopei have been able to keep an elite defensive operator, who is a totemic figure at the heart of Spalletti's team, at the club.

Defence complemented by attack

Sir Alex Ferguson once remarked that “attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”.

And while the extent to which that claim holds true is somewhat debatable, Napoli’s success in blunting the opposition has not seen them neglect things at the sharp end of the pitch.

They are averaging just over two goals per game and have delivered a couple of thrashings already, beating Udinese and Sampdoria 4-0 in back-to-back away outings last month.

The men tasked with protecting the Neapolitans’ box have also contributed when it comes to doing damage in the opposition’s area, with Rrhamani and Koulibaly each getting on the scoresheet twice so far this term.

Managing expectations

Napoli fans are bound to be dreaming of glory but Spalletti is not getting carried away.

Speaking after that 4-0 win at Udinese on Matchday 4 sent his side top of the table, he said: "The season is still long but the team has quality.

"And we need to be consistent — how many games can we play at this level? This will make the difference.

"Milan are very strong. Inter have worked well despite a couple of big sales.

"Our strength is our environment. We are overwhelmed with love that can become fuel for players."

The competition may be fierce but do not bet against Napoli — powered by their brilliant backline — ending a 32-year wait for the title this season.