Napoli – AS Roma: Napoli Pay Tribute To Diego Maradona In Overwhelming Fashion (4-0)

Roma was no match for an organized Napoli side. Fonseca’s men were unable to threaten the home side’s defense due to an underwhelming attack, which was never able to receive in threatening situations, and an extremely fragile defense, which cost the visitors four goals. 
Tactical analysis and match report by Kareem Bianchi.

Four days after the death of football legend Armando Maradona, Napoli had the chance to pay tribute to Naples’ idol and symbol with an important win against an in-form Roma. A win would allow them to catch up with their opponents in fifth place and stay six points behind a relentless Milan team. So with the duty of restoring joy to a mourning City, Gennaro Gattuso fielded his best eleven at hand.  

Tiemoué Bakayoko, who was unavailable due to suspension, and Mattia Politano, who did not make the cut, were replaced by Hirving Lozano and Piotr Zieliński. 

Likewise, Fonseca only changed two players compared to Roma’s last outing in the Serie A against Parma, as he sat out Borja Mayoral and Gonzalo Villar for Lorenzo Pellegrini and Edin Džeko.

Honoring a legend
Napoli started in their usual 4-3-3, opposed by Roma’s 5-4-1 that could turn into a 5-2-3 higher up the field. Napoli’s play focused around the wing, especially down the right side, where Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Fabián Ruiz and Lozano combined to create a consistent triangle and trigger one-versus-one situations between the skillful winger and Leonardo Spinazzola. Whereas on the right it was Lozano who provided width, the left side saw the fullback, Rui, provide width with Insigne staying in proximity and more . . .