Napoli's result against Monza, 4‑1, raised questions about the style of Massimiliano Allegri, often defined as "resultist" and contrasted with "gambling". The match, however, showed a more dynamic and modern approach, with an analysis that highlights how the Napoli team integrated elements of movement and possession even in a context of marked defensive aggression.
At the start of the match, Napoli adopted the 4‑3‑3, but with an interpretation that deviates from the traditional model. Olivera was inserted in a more advanced position, Di Lorenzo changed height to create space, while McTominay moved his position to the opposite side. The midfielders rotated constantly, pushing opponents to move and creating corridors for attacking actions. Hojlund's goal was the result of this rotation: a pass from Di Lorenzo opened a corridor which the Angolan exploited to verticalize the ball to the Dane, demonstrating that possession is not an end in itself but serves to prepare a vertical action.
Napoli showed difficulty when trying to return to a more "resultist" approach. After the 1-0, the team reduced the intensity and quality of the build-up, lowering the center of gravity and struggling to escape the pressure. Monza capitalized, equalizing with a team lined up with numerical superiority in their own area. This episode highlighted that Napoli can lose aggression when they limit themselves to "protecting" them without continuing to control the game. In the second half, the team started moving men and ball again, alternating short constructions with more direct solutions, as demonstrated by the 2‑1 when Milinkovic‑Savic looked for a long pass, McTominay changed zone to recover the ball and Politano recovered possession in an advanced position.
The final phase of the match represented Allegri's most modern signal. With the result now consolidated, the coach chose not to fill the field with defenders, but to maintain quality on the pitch. With De Bruyne, Gilmour, McTominay and Vergara on the pitch at the same time, Napoli recorded 79% possession and, from the 63rd minute, did not concede a single shot. De Bruyne, scorer of the 4‑1, touched 53 balls in about half an hour, playing the role of director in a mobile manner, alternating with Gilmour and leading the action. Ball control has therefore become a defensive tool, as well as an offensive one.
In summary, Allegri's Napoli is showing a clear evolution. To defend the result, the team does not necessarily lower itself, but continues to maintain possession and move its men intelligently. This transformation, although still being defined, suggests that the label of "resultist" is no longer sufficient to describe Allegri's playing method, which is integrating aspects of "gameism" into a more balanced and modern strategy.