Five Things We Learned: Disappointing defeat to Napoli knocks momentum

Napoli break Roma's remarkable home streak

Napoli inflicted AS Roma’s first home loss since November 2015, ending the Giallorossi's longest ever home winning streak, by putting in a sterling away showing. Despite a strong finish from Roma, the damage had already been done by a Napoli outfit on top of their game.

A dejected Luciano Spalletti spoke in admiration of how well Napoli played, insisting: “They were much better in the first-half at moving the ball quickly, whereas we hardly ever managed to raise the tempo or get into the right positions. They also made us really suffer to win back the ball.

“You need the sharpness to make those two or three passes in a row to open up spaces and Napoli did it far better."

Napoli midfield numbers prove invaluable

With Spalletti opting for a 4-2-3-1 shape for this game with Napoli, who played in their preferred 4-3-3 formation, Roma needed to guard against being overrun in central midfield. Unfortunately, however, Roma struggled, especially in the first-half, to combat Napoli's 3v2 advantage in this area of the pitch.

Maurizio Sarri's men used their numerical superiority to great effect, consistently progressing attacks through the Roma midfield cleanly. Often Kevin Strootman and Daniele De Rossi would pick up two of Marko Rog, Marek Hamsik and Jorginho, but with one usually unmarked, Napoli continually found an outlet to move upfield.

Perotti showing a real positive

The skillful Argentine's excellent display from his right wing post was a real positive for Roma on a tough day at the office. The technically gifted attacker proved a real menace, with his inventive dribbling and incisive passing causing numerous problems for the opposing backline.

By the numbers, his five shots, five chances created and five successful take-ons served as a glowing testament to his impact – on what was his first start for more than a month in the league.

Perotti's precise cutback for Strootman's late goal, which came following his searing run down the right, was indeed a fitting way to cap off his performance – and he could even have had the equaliser in injury time if not for some Pepe Reina heroics.

Insigne vital in build-up

In situations when Napoli were looking to pass out from defence, Radja Nainggolan would cover the dropping Jorginho, while De Rossi would take Rog and Strootman marshalled Hamsik, but the movement and positioning of Lorenzo Insigne would be the difference-maker here.

From his nominal left wing post, Insigne would venture infield to around the half-way line to provide an option. The key to the success of this was the fact Antonio Rudiger, Roma's right-back, was restricted from following him into such locations, thus leaving him free in midfield to receive possession unmarked.

The tactic worked wonders, for with Roma's midfielders preoccupied with their own marking assignments, Insigne could receive unopposed, before turning and running at the Roma defence.

It's a well-known fact that Napoli love to attack down their dynamic left side, which features the aforementioned Hamsik and Insigne plus the energetic full-back Faouzi Ghoulam.

Unsurprisingly the opener came from an intricately constructed move that generated in this area of the pitch, which culminated in Hamsik's incisive through ball finding Dries Mertens to score.

Strootman goal more than a consolation

Although by full-time Strootman's late goal against Napoli seemed like nothing more than a small crumb of comfort, it might actually be vital come season's end. Crucially, the goal gives Roma the edge on their head-to-head record with Napoli (if teams are tied on head-to-head results and aggregate goals, the next tiebreaker is overall goal difference), which means Roma will finish ahead of the Partonepei if the two teams end the season level on points.

This creates a different dynamic from last season, where Napoli held the tiebreaker – effectively an extra point over their rivals, a significant psychological advantage if it remains a close race over the final weekends.

Perotti noted this accordingly, stating: "Still, our goal is important because it means we're still ahead of Napoli on head-to-head results."

With a fierce race to secure the final automatic Champions League qualification spot set to ensue, Strootman's goal might yet to be more significant in the long-term than it was on the day.