Short-Blanket Syndrome Affecting Conte’s Napoli

Napoli have re-found their defensive solidity after an uncharacteristic subpar start, but their attack has stopped producing. Rasmus Hojlund shone in his first few appearances, but he’s been easily engulfed in recent matches, while Lorenzo Lucca has never really gotten off the ground, Corriere dello Sport points out.

The Partenopei have collectively scored just once in the last three matches, thanks to Frank Anguissa. Instead, their strikers have combined for just one goal in their past six tilts. The Dane had bagged four early, then he was forced to miss time due to a thigh problem, and he hasn’t looked great since returning.

Hojlund and Lucca aren’t the only ones contributing to the slump up front, as the Napoli wingers haven’t chipped in either. David Neres hasn’t hit the net in ten months, while Matteo Politano last did on March 30^th. Elijf Elmas and Noa Lang have gotten sparse playing time and haven’t made their presence felt.

On the other hand, the Azzurri are coming off three consecutive clean sheets. The improvements have coincided with the reunion between Alessandro Buongiorno and Amir Rrahmani, who had previously been injured alternately.

Our Take on the Napoli Frontline

They weren’t the most explosive side to say the least last year either, but it didn’t drag them down, and it won’t this campaign either, as long as the defense works at Antonio Conte’s standards. It surely doesn’t help that Kevin De Bruyne will miss months, as he’s their only man who can create a chance out of the blue. Romelu Lukaku isn’t far from returning, and his gravitational pull will help everybody near him. That’s where Hojlund and Lucca have been lacking.