SERIE A
‘IN A TITLE RACE – AND THAT IS WHAT SERIE A APPEARS TO HAVE IN 202122 – EVERY TEAM SHOULD EXPECT TO BE TESTED TO THEIR LIMITS’ hobbled off with a hamstring problem. The Slovakia international had been bossing the game in midfield before his untimely exit and La Dea smelt blood in the water and eventually ran out 3-2 winners. In the space of a week, Napoli went from title favourites to running out of fit players to put on the field. In a title race – and that is what Serie A appears to have in 2021-22 – every team should expect to be tested to their limits. Napoli will hope they have had their test early, and if they can go into the spring within touching distance of their rivals, they’ll be well-placed to push on. A week 18 meeting with Milan and a week 20 date with
28
SOCCER360 JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2022
ABOVE: Napoli's Dries Mertens (2-R) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 0-2 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match US Sassuolo vs SSC Napoli BOTTOM: Lazio’s Ciro Immobile (L) and Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly in action
Juventus only increased the stakes over the winter months. But Napoli have to remember that the Scudetto is only handed out in May and with both Milan clubs eyeing the trophy, there’s a lot of football to be played. With a full complement of players to choose from, Spalletti’s side are unlike any other in Serie A – devastatingly quick up front, powered by the pace of Osimhen, and nimble and full of guile when the likes of Insigne, Matteo Politano and Dries Mertens have the ball. They’re capable of scoring from range too, as Ruiz and Zielinski have shown regularly, and hard to get past when
