Juventus – Napoli: Hell Hath No Fury Like An Old Lady Scorned (3-0)

Juventus got their revenge against Napoli, as Luciano Spalletti learned from the errors made at the Maradona. An aggressive man-to-man operation set the tone, the staggering from midfielders blocked the Antonio Conte pattern and Napoli had few solutions in possession, in a result that feels like a turning point.

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

When Serie A’s managerial carousel spins, it is no wonder that clubs can quickly lean into different tactical identities. Juventus and Napoli have taken this a step further, as both have seen major changes both tactically and as a club itself.

Luciano Spalletti, formerly of Napoli, is sparking a stylistic change at Juve, one in which they tried to do under the likes of Maurizio Sarri/Thiago Motta. In the process, Juve has seen improvements quickly. Weston McKennie is Spalletti’s wild card, a player who has been granted the license to move and exploit space, whilst showing good connections with Fabio Miretti. Overall, finding the free man in wide overloads has been growing as the weeks continue. Juve is firmly back in the top-four picture, but a Juve-of-old would have appropriately supported Spalletti in the winter market. A defeat away to Cagliari threw a spanner in the works, but a win against José Mourinho’s Benfica, to qualify for the next Champions League stage, restored the mood.

Antonio Conte, formerly . . .