Udinese’s story was fun for a while, but the 2022/23 Serie A season has been all about Luciano Spalletti’s dazzling Neapolitans.
Napoli have not only set the standard in Italy, but many in Europe have marvelled over their majesty so far this season. Now, quick starts aren’t anything new for Spalletti’s side. They started last season superbly before fading down the stretch. Nevertheless, there’s a distinct feeling of something special happening in Naples this time around.
They’ll return to action in 2023 at the top of the table and will be vying for their first Scudetto triumph since Diego Maradona was in town. Their current advantage is hefty, but the competitors will grow stronger as the season progresses.
Here’s a rundown of the situation at the top of the Serie A table.
Dominant in Serie A and close to perfect in Europe, it’s been a majestic start to the 2022/23 season for Napoli.
The club underwent a massive overhaul in the summer as their three protagonists departed the club for pastures new. The exits of Kalidou Koulibaly, Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens meant expectations were relatively low for Spalletti’s side heading into the campaign, but the club’s summer arrivals have helped thrust Partenopei into a new realm.
Kim Min-jae was Serie A’s standout defender before the break, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been nothing short of revelatory in replacing Insigne. Giacomo Raspadori has also been productive after joining from Sassuolo, but his minutes have dwindled since the phenomenon that is Victor Osimhen returned from injury.
Spalletti’s Napoli are a glorious side to watch: they build play superbly and press fiercely meaning they control contests with and without the ball. They’ve looked by far and away the best team in Italy thus far, but a long road lies ahead.
Squad depth could be an issue down the stretch, especially in defence.
The Scudetto holders have quietly gone about their work thus far with Stefano Pioli failing to deviate from the ideals that helped Milan to their first Serie A title in a decade last season.
Milan are a balanced 4-2-3-1 outfit whose savvy recruitment is envied by pretty much everybody in the division. Pioli has done an excellent job in the fashion capital, and they’re currently Napoli’s closest contenders for the title.
The Rossoneri haven’t been quite as secure at the back compared to last season, but their centre-back partnership of Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu is arguably the best in Serie A. It’s certainly…
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