Former Real Madrid and Spain national team manager, Vicente del Bosque, once reportedly said: “You watch the game, you don’t see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the whole game.”
And with that sentiment in mind, the recent Serie A clash between league leaders Napoli and Jose Mourinho's Roma at the Diego Armando Maradona was a perfect illustration of this quote.
The tactical story of this game will spotlight one particular player, who perhaps - despite getting an assist - was not overtly credited in the post-match discourse. But when observing his game, you not only saw the impact he had on the result but also the wider picture of his team's tactical approach.
The player in question, Piotr Zieliński.
But before we get into the Polish internationals performance, to kick-off, let's quickly see how both team's set-up.
LINEUPS
From a Napoli perspective, in possession, the home side formed a 4-3-3 which transitioned slightly in each phase. They were up against a 5-2-1-2 Roma high block, with Pellegrini tasked with getting close to Lobotka. This Roma shape collapsed into a 5-3-2 low block with Pellegrini dropping onto the outside of Cristante and Matić.
An example of Napoli in middle third possession versus Roma high block.
In Napoli build up, the back four and midfield dropped to create numerical superiority in their own third and provide angles to help play out. Their forward players positioned themselves high, up against the Roma backline, to pin players back.
In the middle and final third, both Napoli fullbacks advanced. In these phases of play, Napoli often overloaded one side of the pitch using their three central midfielders. When either Anguissa and Zieliński moved out towards their near-side flank, the other would also roam over too. This helped create 1) an overload opportunity on the ball-side flank and 2) an overload-to-isolate opportunity on the ball-far side flank with the opposite fullback.
From a Roma perspective, in possession they transitioned between a 3-4-2-1 in the middle third and 3-2-5 shape in the final third. A key feature of their tactics with the ball was the positioning of Pellegrini and Dybala who aimed to get in behind Anguissa and Zieliński and on the outside of Lobotka.
An example of Roma in middle third possession versus Napoli general out of possession shape. Pellegrini and Dybala regularly tried to get into the pockets of space in behind Anguissa and Zieliński and on the outside of Lobotka.
Due to Napoli's 4-3-3 / 4-1-4-1 out of possession shapes, and Roma pushing their wingbacks high to help occupy the Napoli fullbacks, these pockets of space could be regularly exploited.
But this is only intended to be a brief snapshot of how both team's set-up to help set the scene. Now let's move onto the main protagonist of this tactical story, Piotr Zieliński.
PIOTR ZIELIŃSKI
To help showcase the impact Zieliński had on the result, the role he played in Napoli's wider tactical approach and his general intelligent individual play, here are a number of visual examples with accompanying explanations.
01:50 - 02:05: in this sequence, the action starts in the first image below where you can see Napoli have possession with Anguissa on the right flank. Circled is Zieliński who has roamed over to that side (alongside Lobotka). This has dragged a number of Roma players, including their midfield players (Cristante, Matić and Pellegrini), over to that side of the pitch.
In the screengrab below, Zieliński is glancing towards the left flank to check who's positioned where to help decide his next movement.
After scanning the scene - and as a pre-planned tactic - Zieliński holds his central position as Anguissa makes a pass backwards to Di Lorenzo (out of shot in the image below).
In the next image, the action picks up with Rrahmani (out of shot) switching a pass out to Mário Rui on the left flank - the Roma weak-side. Note how Zieliński is now moving back over to this side of the pitch.
To help give Mário Rui some time to advance the ball up the pitch, Zieliński begins to make a movement on the inside and blindside of Cristante. This slight, intentional movement (in my opinion) helps cause confusion and hesitation for Roma's marking scheme. The movement causes Cristante to delay his movement out to Mário Rui but it also makes him think he can pass on Zieliński to Mancini (right-sided centre back) before pushing up and out to engage Mário Rui.
However, in the next image, you can see the change of Zieliński's body shape and how he's made an quick opposite movement back in front of Cristante towards Mário Rui to offer an inside passing option.
In the final image of this sequence, you can see the benefits of Zieliński's movement. Firstly, it's allowed Mário Rui to progress, unopposed up the field (note the difference in grass colour between the image above and below). Secondly, it's created space for Zieliński in the left half-space for a pass. And thirdly, it's (nearly) created a 1v1 situation for Kvaratskhelia versus Zalewski.
Mário Rui actually attempts a pass in behind the Roma backline for Osimhen but the pass gets cut out. End of attacking sequence.
03:05 - 03:13: in this second example, with less screengrabs, the sequence starts with Napoli again having possession with Anguissa on their right flank. Zieliński has again roamed over to help create 1) numerical superiority and 2) space for Mário Rui (circled) on the opposite flank (Roma weak-side). After holding onto the ball momentarily to survey his options, Anguissa eventually passes backwards to Rrahmani (right-sided centre back).
The actions preceding the below image involved Rrahmani passing onto Min-jae (left-sided centre back) who then subsequently passes onto Mário Rui who is again free on the left flank. Again, Zieliński makes a movement on the inside and blindside of Cristante before darting back in front of him.
These movements, again, have dual rationale and benefits - it helps create space for himself to receive a passing option inside and/or helps create space for Kvaratskhelia out wide. The latter was the actual outcome in this sequence. As you can see Zieliński has pre-occupied Cristante which means Zalewski (Roma right wingback) has pushed up to engage the Napoli left fullback. This means Mancini is required to push out and cover to Kvaratskhelia who - if he can receive the ball and beat his opponent - means he'll be running towards the Roma area having bypassed two of their five man defence - a great position to be in.
Mário Rui does find a pass forward to Kvaratskhelia but Zalewski does well to block a passing lane up the line which forces the pass, and the Georgian winger's movement, inside which helps Mancini deal with the situation.
04:10 - 04:24: in this sequence, Napoli make a pass out towards Anguissa on the right flank. In this image see Zieliński's position, straddling between the left half-space and central vertical lanes.
But in this next image, you can see how Zieliński followed the path of the initial pass to 1) support play and 2) drag over the Roma midfield. The preceding action involved Anguissa passing inside to Lobotka who swivels to evade his opponent, carry forward and then find a pass out wide towards the left flank to a free player...yes, you guessed it, Mário Rui.
Mário Rui decides to make a first-time forward pass inside to Osimhen who lays the ball back to Zieliński who has followed the play and then plays out to Kvaratskhelia who has an opportunity to run at his Roma opponent. This sequence concludes with the Napoli winger dribbling at his man before cutting inside and, despite the the Roma bodies in front of him, getting a shot off which is saved low at the near post. Not a goal but Napoli's first attempt on goal.
15:51 - 16:16: so I've showcased a few examples of this pattern of play but none of these had a successful outcome i.e. led to a goal. Queue the next sequence...
In the image below, the action starts with the Napoli circulating the ball alongside their backline - from Rrahmani to Min-jae to Mário Rui. But the key thing to note in this image, is how the positioning of Anguissa and Zieliński is pinning (and narrowing the Roma midfield). This was another regular feature of Napoli's play, when they both weren't roaming out to overload wide areas, they were positioning themselves in close proximity to crease space in the wide areas.
The next screengrab may give a sense of déjà vu as it involves Mário Rui in space, progressing possession up on the left-hand side and Zieliński immediately making a movement to occupy / delay Roma's marking scheme.
In the next image, Zieliński AGAIN makes an opposite movement to his initial one and spins back behind Cristante to offer an inside passing option.
Mário Rui makes the pass inside and as Zieliński is in space, unmarked, Mancini jumps up, out of the Roma backline to go and engage.
Now the screengrab below won't do justice to Zieliński's swiveling to evade his marker but it was expert body feints and twisting and turning to create himself some space and free himself from Mancini's pressure...
...after freeing himself, Zieliński makes a pass inside to Anguissa who then lays the ball back to Lobotka...
...who then completes the triangle passing sequence by passing to to Zieliński...
...who then again, expertly evades and bypasses his incoming opponent to then carry the ball towards the Roma backline...
...where he then passes out wide to Kvaratskhelia...
...Zieliński then makes another decisive and key movement by carrying his run into the box which as a result, helps occupy three Roma defenders and consequently creates space for that (free) man again, Mário Rui.
When Mário Rui receives the ball, as he's unopposed, a number of Roma players react to go and engage but the one who mistakenly does - and also ball watches - is Zalewski. This momentarily lapse in concentration and positioning from the right wingback allows Kvaratskhelia to make a run in behind which Mário Rui finds with a through ball...
...the Napoli winger crosses into the box where further momentarily lapses from Roma defenders - Ibanez misreads the flight of the ball and Spinazzola's attempt at a block will likely have frustrated his manager - but take nothing away from the composure, control and then emphatic finish of Osimhen to put the home side into a 1-0 lead.
19:15 - 19:25: taking the lead did not change Napoli's approach. In the below sequence, Spalletti's players are playing out from the back and the ball gets passed up the right flank to Lozano. Our man Zieliński is roaming over to that side of the pitch...
...this close proximity of the three Napoli midfielders allows for another triangle passing combination and as usual, 1) drags the Roma players towards them and 2) creates space out wide. After executing the triangle passing combination, Zieliński passes out to Mário Rui who is free on the left flank...
...immediately after making his pass, Zieliński sprints to get into his next position - the advanced left half-space pocket. This movement and occupying of this zone is again multi-faceted, the Polish international is ensuring Napoli have an inside passing option and also his presence in this area, gives Mancini a decision as to when, and how, he supports his right wingback versus Kvaratskhelia. Does he stay in position and leave his teammate in a 1v1 or does he vacate his position to support and create gap in the backline that Zieliński or Osimhen (not relevant in this example) could exploit with a run in behind?
In this scenario, it didn't matter, as Kvaratskhelia attempted to dribble at his opponent but he gets dispossessed.
22:43: in this single screengrab example below, as Napoli have possession in the middle third, Zieliński makes a movement towards the play - 1) to offer an inside passing option and 2) to drag Cristante up the pitch. This movement subsequently creates a passing lane into Osimhen but Min-jae opts for the less progressive pass to Mário Rui (perhaps out of habit by now). This is also despite the players' manager, Spalletti (circled), pointing to where he wanted the pass to go.
23:05 - 23-35: the below sequence follows directly on from the example above. Napoli had a throw in and work possession back towards their defence. The passing sequence goes from Min-jae to Rrahmani to Di Lorenzo and then into Anguissa. Note the positioning of the highlighted Zieliński and Cristante in this image...
...and now five seconds later, compare the two. Zieliński's movement - which by now we should just refer to as being a decoy - has dragged Cristante towards him and following some interplay, the Polish players off-ball movement has created space for Mário Rui.
Due to Mário Rui being unattended, Zalewski jumps up to engage the left fullback. This action from the Roma player to jump up is the cue for Mário Rui to try and find Kvaratskhelia, as this disruption in the Roma defensive shape could create a 1v1 situation for the winger to utilise his skilled dribbling and ball-carrying ability.
After receiving the pass, Kvaratskhelia - recognising there is now space for him to attack in behind, as Mancini has jumped out of his defensive position to close him down - lays the ball back to Mário Rui and then runs into the space for the return pass but the fullback doesn't attempt it, perhaps thinking the angle / execution was too difficult.
So instead, the Portuguese fullback passes inside to Zieliński who then passes to Anguissa - who in this scenario has roamed over to his teammates side - and then Napoli can execute the same pattern of play on their right-hand side by finding Di Lorenzo in space in the right-side inside vertical lane.
The three Napoli central midfielders (all highlighted), as usual, all move towards the ball to support and drag Roma players with them. And following some passing exchanges in central areas, the ball finds it way back with Min-jae who then passes out to Mário Rui who is now in space again.
The next pass is out to Kvaratskhelia but his 1v1 window of opportunity is quickly closed with Cristante dropping back to support his wingback and therefore the winger passes the ball inside to Zieliński who is in a pocket of space in that advanced left half-space. But despite Anguissa joining to help combine, Napoli lose possession and the attack ends.
27:17 - 23:20: in this final example of the first half, Mário Rui is receiving his usual pass in space on the left-hand side. And therefore, this the cue for Zieliński to make his now trademark movement - an initial decoy movement forward, ahead of the Roma central midfielder, and then when his opponent goes to engage the Napoli left fullback, quickly changing direction and making an opposite movement backwards into space - as the the Roma central midfielder is now pre-occupied elsewhere and the wide central defender on that side needs to cover the distance to get close to him. Which, in this example, he managed to do, by tackling Zieliński after he received the inside pass.
55:24 - 55:29: onto the second half and it was rinse and repeat for Napoli.
In this sequence, the ball is getting played to Di Lorenzo in space on the right flank. Highlighted is Zieliński who makes a run on the blindside of Cristante to get into the space behind and on the inside of him.
In the next image below of this passage of play, Di Lorenzo passes to Anguissa and you can now see how Zieliński's off-ball movement has 1) created a vertical passing lane (the decoy) and 2) created space for Mário Rui to advance into (the real ploy).
Despite the passing lane being wide, and a player with his ability, Anguissa's pass is poorly executed and Roma are therefore able to regain possession.
68:45: in this next single screengrab example, it shows again, how this tactic was not exclusive to Zieliński and the left fullback. In this scenario, as Napoli have possession on their left flank, Anguissa roams over to 'support' and thus creates space on the opposite flank where Di Lorenzo could then find himself in space to receive the ball and initiate attacks on the Roma weak-side.
Between the previous and next example, Roma found an equaliser, from half-time substitute, El Shaarawy who connected at the far post following a cross from the right wing. But as these final two examples will show, despite the scoreline being level and a number of Napoli substitutions, they kept to these specific principles of play.
76:56: here's another single screengrab example showcasing Zieliński's off-ball movement and how his positioning helps occupy Roma players and create space for, now, Mathías Olivera (a 69th minute substitute for Mário Rui).
84:58 - 85:08: again, you may be thinking, 'when is this death by slideshow going to show any end results'. Well, we've saved the best example to last. As this example not only leads to Napoli's winning goal but it has elements of nearly all Napoli's clear, repeated, principles of play when in possession.
The sequence starts off with Napoli having possession on the left flank, here Anguissa (circled) has momentarily swapped sides with Zieliński (highlighted). In this example we can see how Napoli have again overloaded the ball-side area to help maintain possession and drag the opposition over towards that side of the pitch.
In the next image below, Napoli initiate their intended switch of play to the Roma weak-side by first passing the ball backwards to a supporting player, shifting up the Roma defensive shape in the process.
Then, Lobotka in this instance, finds the switch to the advanced Napoli fullback on the Roma weak-side in lots of space. Still highlighted is Zieliński who whilst has not moved much compared to previous examples, is ensuring is positioning helps cause a reaction from the Roma players.
Once Di Lorenzo receives the pass, it drags the ball-side Roma central midfielder towards him and this leaves Zieliński in space to receive an inside pass.
In this instance, whether through physical or mental fatigue or some disruption from multiple substitutions, Zieliński is afforded some time to control and carry the ball towards the Roma backline which causes the left-sided central defender to jump out to engage him, consequently leaving Simeone (substitute for Osimhen) in a 1v1 situation versus Smalling, who is not touch-tight to his opponent.
Zieliński passes into Simeone and importantly doesn't stop there, he continues to make a forward run into the area to offer a one-two pass exchange with his front man and this off-ball movement, causes some slight hesitation from Smalling being able to close down the Napoli striker. The consequence, Simeone is able to control, turn and shoot into the top corner to clinch the win and send the home fans, and home team bench, into wild celebrations.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
The multiple (some may say overkill) examples showcased in this piece whilst predominantly shone an individual spotlight on Zielinski, were really a showcase of Napoli's overall tactical approach and principles of play.
Across all of the examples included, we have seen recurring themes of Napoli;
using their fullbacks to exploit the wide (outside) spaces against the Rome 5-2-1-2 shape which had the downside of being narrow in the middle (especially with their wingbacks often being pinned back by Napoli's high and wide wingers too)
switching play from side-to-side to shift the Roma defensive block across the pitch and therefore creating space and a frequent weak-side
their players, specifically their three central midfielders, overloading areas to 1) combine (being in close proximity allowed for passing combinations to be executed) and 2) overloading to isolate the weak-side
trying to create 1v1 situations against the Roma backline, in particular, trying to manufacture more instances, than would naturally occur, for Kvaratskhelia to run at his opponent, ideally in space
Whilst only two of these examples led to goals in this match, when observing other Napoli matches - like against Juventus - you can see similar patterns evident. And it these repeated and varied attacking tactics that help tell the story of how they, after this game, are 13 points clear at the top of Serie A after 20 game weeks played.
Thank you for reading this tactical story.
All game screengrabs were captured from BT Sport and all data sources were referenced within the piece.
Comments