Napoli are the team who, on average, have kept the highest amount of possession in Serie A matches so far in 2023-24, leading Thiago Motta’s Bologna, who rank second, and Milan, who pip their city-rivals Inter into third place.
After 31 matches of the 2023-24 campaign, Napoli have managed to keep hold of the ball for an average of 34 minutes and 17 seconds per game according to data compiled by Calciomercato.com.
That is despite their current seventh-place ranking in the Serie A table, and despite the fact that three different coaches have sat in the Stadio Maradona dugout this season in Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona.
Napoli have also held possession for over a minute more per game than the second-best ranked Serie A side, Bologna, who have recorded an average of 33 minutes and 15 seconds on the ball so far in the league.
Stefano Pioli’s Milan rank in third, having kept hold of the ball for an average of 32 minutes and 23 seconds this season, while runaway Serie A leaders Inter are currently in fourth with 31 minutes and 23 seconds.
Fiorentina currently sit in fifth, Raffaele Palladino’s Monza rank sixth and Roma, after spells with Jose Mourinho and Daniele De Rossi, come in seventh.
Juventus, meanwhile, sit in the bottom half of the table for possession, in 12th specifically, just behind Frosinone and marginally ahead of relegation-threatened Sassuolo.
Serie A possession in 2023-24 by minutes
1) Napoli – 34 minutes and 7 seconds
2) Bologna – 33 minutes and 15 seconds
3) Milan – 32 minutes and 17 seconds
4) Inter – 31 minutes and 23 seconds
5) Fiorentina – 31 minutes and 21 seconds
6) Monza – 30 minutes and 44 seconds
7) Roma – 30 minutes and 20 seconds
8) Lazio – 29 minutes and 59 seconds
9) Atalanta 28 minutes and 59 seconds
10) Torino – 28 minutes and 49 seconds
11) Frosinone – 27 minutes and 33 seconds
12) Juventus – 27 minutes and 14 seconds
13) Sassuolo – 25 minutes and 21 seconds
14) Salernitana – 24 minutes and 26 seconds
15) Genoa – 24 minutes and 3 seconds
16) Empoli – 23 minutes and 49 seconds
= 17) Hellas Verona – 23 minutes and 23 seconds
=17 ) Lecce 23 minutes and 23 seconds
19) Cagliari – 23 minutes and 3 seconds
20) Udinese – 21 minutes and 21 seconds