Napoli goal practice: Lucca bags hat-trick against Avellino | OneFootball

A useful test for Antonio Conte, with many players absent due to international duty and various tactical experiments. The former Udinese striker sends strong signals ahead of the league’s resumption.

Napoli, goal rehearsals at Castel Volturno: Lucca shines with a hat-trick against Avellino

The test: Napoli–Avellino ends 5-3

Napoli wrapped up their week of training at Castel Volturno with a joint session against Avellino, which ended 5-3. The star of the match was Lorenzo Lucca, who scored a hat-trick, showcasing his form and determination to establish himself as a starter, while Antonio Conte awaits Højlund’s return from World Cup qualifiers.

The scoresheet for the Italian champions was completed by Lorenzo Spinazzola, who found the net with a shot from the left, and the young Cimmaruta. For Biancolino’s Wolves, the goals came from Martin Palumbo, Valerio Crespi, and Raffaele Russo.

Absences and tactical experiments

The match was played in a unique context, with 14 Napoli players away on international duty. This opened the door to various tactical trials and the inclusion of as many as twelve Primavera (youth team) players.

Among the most significant changes:

Juan Jesus deployed in a more advanced role, as a central midfielder.

Gutierrez, close to his first official call-up, got a taste of match rhythm by sharing the left flank with Spinazzola.

Tests of internal runs and movements as a mezzala to adapt to Conte’s requirements.

Lucca sends a message to Conte

Lucca’s hat-trick is more than just a statistic: it’s the most important signal of the day, confirming his growth at a time when Napoli needs to find offensive consistency. Conte kept him on the pitch for a long time specifically to help him absorb the movements required by his system of play.

With Højlund yet to return and Lukaku still unavailable, the competition up front remains open, but Lucca seized the opportunity to apply positive pressure and climb the pecking order.

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