Napoli: Conte pushes on, minimal rotation, eyes top spot before break | OneFootball

Antonio Conte asks his Napoli for one last effort before the break. Few changes in Bologna, with Hojlund and McTominay called to revitalize an attack struggling to score.

Napoli, Conte doesn't stop: minimal turnover and aim for first place before the break

Antonio Conte doesn't change his philosophy: few experiments, maximum performance. The Azzurri coach, ahead of the trip to Bologna, once again relies on his key players to close this first part of the season in the best way and attempt the assault on first place before the international break.

The watchword is continuity. Despite the fatigue accumulated in the Champions League and some minor injuries, Conte focuses on the solidity and tactical identity built in recent weeks.

Few changes: only Politano might rest

The lineup facing Bologna shouldn't differ much from the one seen in recent outings. Spinazzola and Gilmour remain sidelined due to physical issues, while the only real doubt concerns Matteo Politano, who might take a breather, leaving space for either Neres or Lang.

On the other flank, Eljif Elmas is expected to play, one of the most positive in the Champions League defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt. In defense, the Buongiorno–Rrahmani duo is confirmed in front of Milinkovic-Savic, with the goal of extending the streak to four consecutive matches without conceding a goal.

Solid defense, but the attack lacks punch

While Napoli shows increasing solidity at the back, the problem remains the offensive phase. The Azzurri haven't scored in two matches (Eintracht and Como) and have only netted one goal in the last three games, against Lecce. Worrying numbers for a team built to compete at the top of Serie A.

The most evident issue is the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, out due to injury: the Belgian had participated in 30% of the season's goals (6 out of 20), with 4 goals and 2 assists. Since he's been sidelined, Napoli's threat in front of goal has drastically reduced.

Conte asks for the best from Hojlund and McTominay

To reverse the trend, the best version of Rasmus Hojlund will be needed, called to regain confidence with scoring after a muscle fatigue stop, and Scott McTominay, valuable for balance and insertions but still goalless in the league.

Conte, as always, doesn't dramatize but demands concreteness: "We need one last effort, we must reach the top before the break," he reportedly told his players. The message is clear: no distractions, Bologna is a tough obstacle, but the goal remains to win without losing their identity.

The mission: finish on top before the break

Napoli has only one immediate goal: to reach the break as leaders or at least in full contention for the Scudetto. The defense has returned to being a strength, but without goals from midfielders and wingers, there's a risk of slowing down at the most crucial moment.

Cynicism, attention, and everyone's contribution will be needed, because as Conte has often reminded: "The standings are built even in difficult times, with scrappy wins and team sacrifice."

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