Napoli are off to an impressive start to the season despite doubts raised during the summer transfer campaign, which saw Lorenzo Insigne, Kalidou Koulibaly and Fabian Ruiz leave.

The Partenopei are the Serie A leaders along with Milan and Atalanta and have won two games from two in the Champions League, against Liverpool and Rangers.

Luciano Spalletti’s men are playing one of the most entertaining and efficient brands of football in Italy at the moment and their last two European fixtures have proved the club’s ambition which some fans had questioned over the summer.

The Partenopei sold Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Fabian Ruiz (PSG) and saw Lorenzo Insigne and David Ospina leave at the end of their contracts. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia replaced the Italian winger, moving to the Stadio Maradona for just €10m.

The Georgia international embodies Napoli’s new course with his four goals and two assists in eight games across all competitions.

Giacomo Raspadori and Giovanni Simeone have replaced Osimhen by scoring one goal each in the first two European fixtures. Piotr Zielinski seems to have rediscovered his true self once Spalletti switched to a 4-3-3 system and Tanguy Ndombele, who has joined the Azzurri on loan from Tottenham, scored his first Napoli goal in Scotland last night.

Napoli beat Rangers 3-0 away despite being without two of their bests players: Victor Osimhen and Hirving Lozano.

Spalletti has built a deep and solid team which is still unbeaten in Serie A and is preparing to face co-leaders Milan at San Siro on Sunday night.

Director Cristiano Giuntoli explained last week how the Partenopei had to match their ambitions with the need to cut costs over the summer, leading to the sales of their most prominent leaders.

Napoli have already scored through 11 different players in eight games. They have netted seven goals and conceded one in the Champions League.

They have the most prolific attack with 13 goals in six Serie A games and the second-best defence with four goals conceded, only second to Atalanta (three). The early signs are promising and suggest the club’s plan is working out.

The next step is to gain consistency, something they’ve failed to achieve over the last few years.

4 thought on “Wins over Rangers and Liverpool prove Napoli’s ambition despite summer transfers doubts”
  1. If Napoli are going to do this, winning in Milan becomes essential.

    That would really pay down a marker. The Lazio game was a test, but Liverpool were out of sorts. Slip ups at Fiorentina and Lecce mean Napoli need to send out a message that this season is different to last and the near misses under Sarri.

  2. It’s only early in this season LOL,
    that’s how usually Spalleti’s team performed.
    Did well first, and then slowly sink later.

  3. Defense looks weak, the Georgian won’t last as he constantly shoots and misses target often. It’s way to early the 2nd half of season is where it will be seen if they have what it takes. They tied with Lecce which was always a problem where weaker teams can beat them.

  4. ‘ The next step is to gain consistency, something they’ve failed to achieve over the last few years”

    That’s exactly their problem.

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