Antonio Conte has made good on his promise to re-establish an out-of-sorts Napoli facet as a real Serie A title contender this season. Heading into Sunday’s house conflict in opposition to mid-table Udinese, the three-time Scudetto winners sit on the high of the desk, albeit narrowly forward of reigning holders Inter.
Napoli spurned an excellent likelihood to increase their lead on the summit of their final , conceding a stoppage-time equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Roma. A gut-wrenching outcome within the newest version of the well-known knocked the Partenopei down from a seven-game profitable league streak.
Nevertheless, the approaching house return ought to settle Conte’s nerves. Aside from a 1-0 loss to Lazio in early December, his prices have received 4 of their final 5 Serie A outings at Stadio Diego Maradona, together with three with out conceding. Actually, victories ‘to nil’ have been an indicator of Conte’s tenure on the south coast.
Pressure to Be Reckoned with
Defenses typically win titles, and Napoli boast one hell of a backline. Certainly, the hosts’ defensive resilience has been a cornerstone of their marketing campaign, conceding the fewest targets within the league and offering a stable basis for his or her title problem.
Conte has all the time carried a status as a conservative supervisor. However he has outdone himself in Naples. Along with guiding Napoli to 16 extra factors than at this stage final season, he has refined their porous backline, turning it into an nearly impregnable unit.
Napoli have solely conceded 16 league targets this season, to not point out they’ve stored a league-high 12 shutouts within the opening 23 rounds. Three got here of their final 5 house video games in Serie A, with Roma, Venezia, and Verona falling sufferer to their off-the-charts defensive stubbornness.
Stroll within the Park
Underestimating Udinese can be a grave mistake. Nevertheless, Napoli can afford to enter this contest considerably complacent, contemplating they’ve dominated this opposition via and thru previously decade. For perspective, you’d want to return to 2013 for the final time they didn’t beat the Friulian outfit on house turf.
Since then, it’s all been plain crusing for Napoli as they’ve racked up a jaw-dropping ten-game profitable house streak in opposition to their upcoming rivals in Serie A motion. Moreover, they’ve bagged a minimum of three targets in 5 of their final seven house conferences with Udinese, rising victorious on every event.
However neutrals shouldn’t maintain their breath as followers in attendance might not take pleasure in a spectacle this time.
Uneventful Frontline
Conte values outcomes above all else. Subsequently, it’s barely shocking most of Napoli’s victories underneath the previous Inter and Juventus coach have produced slim one-goal margins. Moreover, 9 groups have netted extra house targets than Napoli’s 17 this season.
Earlier than placing exactly and Verona of their final two video games on the Maradona Stadium, Napoli had failed to attain greater than as soon as in 5 consecutive house matches. But, their long-standing dominance on this match-up might deliver a change of fortunes.
Both method, they need to put three extra factors on the board.