AS Roma – Napoli: Superb Strikes From Left-Backs In A Poor Quality Game (1-1)

Goals from Leonardo Spinazzola and Angeliño looked impressive on the highlight reels, but this was a game with very little to offer. A strange run of events between the league leaders and a changed line-up from a revitalized team.

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

Almost ten years after Claudio Ranieri and Antonio Conte won back-to-back Premier League titles, it is remarkable how both have stayed just as relevant at the elite level of coaching. 

Of course, both had established themselves long before their triumphs (and with very different stories attached) but in 2025 their experiences are still paying off. Roma are revitalized after a horrific start: four Serie A wins in their last six games have them back in the top half of the standings. Ranieri has brought traditional Italian dynamics to the squad, mostly through the central center-back stepping ahead of the ball in the deep buildup, an Argentine reliance on progression (through Leandro Paredes and Paulo Dybala) and passive defending depending on the game state.

Two significant results have elevated Napoli’s status as league leaders. Besting fellow contenders Atalanta Bergamo was a huge three points, but a better performance to defeat the unbeaten Juventus sent a much grander message to the rest of the league. Antonio Conte has crafted a title run based on the physicality of its midfield being able to overpower . . .

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Joel Parker (24) is an Everton fan. Whenever he’s not watching his beloved Everton, Joel spends his time analyzing all sorts of football. Chief editor and Founder of Toffee Analysis. [ View all posts ]

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