Napoli: Conte eyes two strikers, Lukaku return to boost attack | OneFootball

The return of Romelu Lukaku represents much more than just a physical recovery: for Antonio Conte, it could become the lever to redesign Napoli’s attacking setup.

Napoli, Conte prepares a two-striker Napoli: Lukaku’s return could change the team’s offensive identity

According to today’s edition of Corriere dello Sport, the coach is considering the possibility of introducing a pure two-striker formation, pairing Lukaku with Hojlund in a tandem that offers new and complementary solutions.

A new tactical scenario

The simultaneous inclusion of Lukaku and Hojlund would allow Conte to broaden the range of attacking options: physical presence, depth, hold-up play, counterattacks, the ability to absorb opponent pressure and free up the wingers.

The sports daily emphasizes how the pair have perfectly complementary characteristics. The source notes: “Romelu and Rasmus, who have different attributes both physically and tactically, could in some ways recall and revive old Inter stories from recent times: to be clear, Big Rom and Hoj could form a perfectly matched tandem like the Lukaku-Lautaro duo that, under Conte’s guidance, even won the Scudetto in 2021.”

A parallel that clarifies the coach’s intention: to enhance two different profiles to create a more dynamic and unpredictable attacking system.

Why the two-striker setup can work

The possible coexistence of the two forwards arises from specific tactical opportunities:

Variety of movement: Lukaku prefers playing with his back to goal, shielding the ball, and using his physicality in duels; Hojlund consistently attacks the space in behind.

Greater unpredictability: two central reference points force opposing defenses into more complex decisions, creating space for attacking midfielders and box-to-box players.

Coordinated pressing: both have the structure and intensity to initiate high pressing, a fundamental element in Conte’s teams.

Possibility to vary the formation: from 3-5-2 to 3-4-1-2, and even hybrid solutions with one striker dropping between the lines.

A more vertical and physical Napoli

With two complementary strikers, Napoli could become a more vertical, more direct team, better able to exploit open spaces. Such a choice would put the wingers and midfielders back at the heart of the play, requiring them to support with constant runs forward.

It would therefore be a return to the typical principles of “Conte’s method”: organized pressing, immediate vertical play, constant search for depth, and synchronization between the two strikers.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.