AS Roma – Napoli: Osimhen’s Thunder Strikes Powerless Roma (0-1)

In a highly tactical and physical clash, Roma and Napoli managed to produce a game with just a handful of goal opportunities which left little room for spectacle. In the end, Napoli chased the win with more insistence and were awarded the win thanks to a fantastic strike by Osimhen, while Roma lacked sharpness going forward.
Tactical analysis and match report written by Giovanni Cesaroni.

The match between AS Roma and Napoli could be considered a real clash of styles. The physical and counterattacking approach given by José Mourinho to his Roma faced the free-flowing, attacking attitude of Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli, who had won the last ten games in all competitions and leading the Serie A table, still unbeaten.

Hit by Paulo Dybala’s absence but buoyant after a positive start to the season in Serie A,  Mourinho shaped his new Roma to his image, based on all-round solidity and character. His 3-4-2-1 system saw Chris Smalling, Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibañez starting as the defensive center-back trio in front of goalkeeper Rui Patrício. In midfield, Mady Camara and Bryan Cristante played as the two central midfielders alongside Leonardo Spinazzola and Rick Karsdorp, the dynamic pair of wing-backs. Up front there was room for creativity with Nicolò Zaniolo and the captain, Lorenzo Pellegrini to support the striker Tammy Abraham, in need of goals after an unconvincing first part of the season.

On the other side, Luciano Spalletti had to deal with some absences too. Following a 4-3-3 shape, in front of Alex Meret, Juan Jesus took the place of Amir Rrahmani together with Kim Min-Jae as center-backs, Mathías Olivera granted . . .

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