Napoli’s difficult opening to the season has left Massimiliano Allegri with a familiar priority: before his side can chase games with greater freedom, it must become harder to break down. The coach has two weeks to work towards a demanding run of nine matches in 29 days, with Serie A ground to recover and a Champions League campaign that still needs its first real momentum.
Defensive certainty before attacking ambition
Allegri’s assessment is built around solidity. Napoli may not always need to be spectacular, but their larger targets require a dependable defensive base. The intention is to restore the feeling of control that allows the team to attack with more confidence, find space in transition and support Rasmus Hojlund more effectively.
There are broader issues to address as well. Napoli want to improve the quality of their passing, make better choices in the final third and show greater conviction around the opposition penalty area. Progress has been complicated by international duty and a treatment room that remains crowded, limiting the time available for collective work.
The recent match in Florence underlined the work still required. Napoli showed signs of being better able to manage difficult spells and defend through possession, but they were still too casual in some readings of the game, slow to recognise danger and insufficiently sharp in the final area.
- Napoli must climb the Serie A standings during a congested period.
- The club also needs to begin collecting points in the Champions League.
- Allegri believes the first meaningful improvement must come without the ball.
- A stronger platform could subsequently help Hojlund receive better support and give Napoli more attacking options.
A return to three at the back under consideration
The idea of using a three-man defence is no longer being treated as an emergency measure or a taboo. It is emerging as the quickest route towards a change in Napoli’s early-season direction, particularly for a coach who had major success with that structure at Juventus.
Napoli themselves used three defenders for much of last season, often while navigating repeated absences. Allegri is not expected to disturb the midfield pairing of Billy Gilmour and Stanislav Lobotka, but he is considering bringing back a 3-4-2-1, or a 3-4-3 depending on the available players.
The plan need not mean a fixed back three in every phase. One possible variation would begin with Sam Beukema nominally at full-back before he holds a more conservative position, while Leonardo Spinazzola is granted licence to advance from the opposite flank. Giovanni Di Lorenzo could also be used along the entire right side, while Costantino Favasuli’s competitive edge has made him one of the more encouraging figures in an uneven spell for the Azzurri.
Beukema and Neres in the next stage of the rebuild
Beukema could become central to Allegri’s defensive adjustment. The Dutchman has yet to make his seasonal debut because of a longstanding Achilles tendon problem, but he is now ready to return. Two friendlies have been scheduled to help him regain sharpness and match rhythm, with David Neres also expected to benefit.
Neres offers another route towards a more forceful Napoli attack. He found his best form last season after a system change and became a key figure in the Supercoppa, before another injury kept him out throughout 2026. His return could give Allegri greater variety if the coach settles on a shape with three defenders and more advanced wide players.
Beukema, Amir Rrahmani and Rafa Marin are among the possible components of a rebuilt defensive wall. Their individual qualities, however, will not be enough on their own. The whole side would need to accept a greater workload and more sacrifice away from possession.
- Sam Beukema is available again after his Achilles issue but needs match conditioning.
- David Neres is also set to use the planned friendlies to improve his fitness.
- McTominay and Alisson returning to full rhythm would offer Napoli more quality from midfield forwards.
- Allegri’s immediate focus remains collective defensive discipline rather than simply changing personnel.
There is no prospect of recreating the celebrated Juventus BBC era, nor is that the point of the exercise. Allegri’s task is more immediate: make Napoli compact, alert and difficult to play through, then build the climb from there. His record includes major recoveries and long winning runs, but this one begins with a simpler demand — Napoli must first become a team that opponents struggle to move.
