This is how Mazzarri and Osimhen’s Naples plays, Barça’s rival in the Champions League round of 16

He finished second in Real Madrid’s group and now, as happened to Xavi in ​​the Europa League, he crosses the path of Barça. He is the current scudetto champion, but the departure of Spalletti, the coach who took him to the top, disintegrated the project, despite the fact that the same pillars remain on the field, with Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia as great symbols. Symbols of a team that attacks well (10 goals in six Champions League games) and defends poorly (has conceded nine goals).

There are two precedents with Barça in Europe. In both cases it has been positive for the Blaugranas since they eliminated the Italian team. In the round of 16 of the Champions League, Setién’s Barça beat Naples (1-1 in Italy and 3-1 at the Camp Nou) and in the Europa League Xavi’s Barça also won: 1-1 in Barcelona and 2- 4 at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium.

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1.The coach: Mazzarri, a classic to get out of the crisis

The bet on Rudi Garcia did not go well at all for Aurelio De Laurentis, the president of the Italian club. For this reason, he looked back in search of an expert coach with a past in Naples to try to right the situation. And he chose De Laurentis to be one of his great friends.

He chose Walter Mazzarri, who was the coach who promoted the team, giving it the first title after the Maradona era in 2012. It was the Italian Cup. He became the coach who led Naples for four years (2009-2013).

It is a bet for immediate performance, although it will be difficult to fight to retain the scudetto crown. Inter is the leader, with 41 points, followed by Juventus (37), Milan (32), Bologna (28), Fiorentina (27) and Naples (27), which occupies sixth place.

It takes little time. Just a month. He has directed six games, with three victories (1-2 against Atalanta, 2-0 against Braga in the Champions League and 2-1 against Cagliari) and three defeats: Madrid (4-2) in Europe, Inter (0-3) and Juventus (1-0) in Serie A.

2.The tactic: A drawing to find stability

Mazzarri is betting on a traditional 4-3-3, with a structure in which he tries, above all, to find stability. But the coach does not always succeed, as he needs to look for the pieces that will give him that solvency that has disappeared as soon as he won the scudetto.

He plays with Meret in goal, accompanied by Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesús and Natan in the defensive structure, leaving the midfield for Lobotka, the former Celta player, accompanied by Anguissa and Ctrabajo, although the starter is Zielinski, while up top There is the trident formed by Politano, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia.

With that team they suffered to beat Cagliari, located at the bottom of the Serie A table because they are sixteenth ranked, with only 13 points. This shows his instability because he is being very weak defensively.

3.The star: Everything depends on Osimhen

Naples is not understood without its center forward. Everything begins and ends with him. It all depends on Víctor Osimhen, that powerful nine capable of taking down any defense. Thanks to him, together with the magic of Kvaratskhelia (22 years old), who has been fading this season, managed to win the scudetto because Spalletti, now the Italian coach, gave him the right setting to exploit his speed and intuition.

The Nigerian scored 26 goals in 32 league games, also adding five assists, so his impact on the team was devastating. This season his numbers are still good (seven goals and two assists in 12 games), once the summer noise disappeared when he received offers to leave.

But, in the end, Osimhen, aged 24, decided to stay, even though Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayer Munich wanted him before recruiting Kane. Or Napoli did not want to sell him, aware that without him everything would be much more complicated. It’s already being that way even with him.

2023-12-18 13:55:18
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