Are Conte’s Napoli Becoming Favourites for the Serie A Title?

Making any kind of prediction on Serie A is difficult. This is one of the world’s most competitive and unpredictable leagues, renowned for its tactical depth and the intensity of its matches. Not many would have predicted so early in the 2024-25 season, for instance, that Napoli would be surging toward the top of the table.

The Current Serie A Standings

The Partenopei are the Serie A table leaders, enjoying a four-point lead over second-placed Inter, their opponent at San Siro in less than two weeks. Juventus have already slipped seven points below the Partenopei, while Atalanta sit third at -6.

Back in August, Napoli were smashed 3-0 by Verona, to the point where most bookies were putting them right at the bottom of their rankings. Interestingly, the bookies that are shown on Aussie Bet (https://aussiebet.com/) – which has everything related to online betting in Australia – were the only ones keeping faith in the Partenopei, with a 5/1 odds chance of winning the title based on the credence of Antonio Conte alone.

The Thing About Conte

Ever since Conte signed onto the team, there has been a real chance he would take Napoli to the next level. Conte is one of the most respected and successful managers in football, let alone Serie A, where he’s renowned for his tactical acumen, leadership skills, and his ability to motivate the team.

Starting his career as a professional footballer with Lecce before moving to Juventus, he knows this league inside out, moving on to work with Juventus as a manager between 2011 to 2014 and then Inter from 2019 to 2021. We all know Napoli finished Serie A with 53 points last term, leaving them in tenth place underneath teams like Torino, Atalanta, and Inter, who won the league.

But Conte has been biding his time with these players. He has a history of improving teams over time and maximising their potential, and seeing as he’s signed so many young and promising footballers, this seems to be precisely what he’s doing with Napoli.

The Big Picture for Napoli

Last year was certainly a learning curve, but when Conte’s teams start winning, it takes a lot to get them to stop. As mentioned previously, Conte has experience in Serie A. He understands the league’s intricacies, including the tactical approaches of various teams and the pressure that comes with competing at the highest level.

He would have taken time to instil that experience when he took the job, and now the fruits of his labour are coming to light. The team has a definite winning mentality, and with Conte’s new 4-2-3-1 system, they’re doing well to stand up against their opponents and hit them when they’re on the attack.

Just take a look at Napoli’s recent fixture against Como. The Azzurri aren’t the biggest test for a team like Napoli, but they’ve been playing to their strengths this season, and a league like Serie A doesn’t present any opportunity to rest on your laurels. Como undoubtedly went out onto the pitch to shock Napoli and knock them off the top spot, but the Partenopei were self-assured, calm, and composed.

Lukaku, specifically, took the fight to the opposition immediately, setting up a fantastic McTominay goal after just 25 seconds.

Their defence also shone throughout the match, hardly giving Como any breathing room. Although it was breached once, this fixture sets the team up well for the remaining season—they were able to get to the top spot on the table fast, and they’re similarly capable of holding their nerve and staying there.

Are Napoli Really Favourites?

Across the board, the bookies are making Napoli favourites for the Serie A title, and it’s hard to disagree with them. We’re still very early on in the league, but nothing that has happened so far indicates that Napoli will fall into a losing rut. They started poorly, learned from their mistakes, and are now at the top of their game, spurred on by Conte’s coaching prowess and dedication to reliving past glories.

They have a lot of competition that goes without saying. Inter are nipping at their heels, and the Napoli draw with Juventus in Round 5 would have got the nerves ramping up. To win a title like this, early games against the biggest rivals will play a crucial role in building momentum and instilling confidence. However, Conte’s formation and structure, defensive organisation, and ability to motivate teams cannot be overlooked. The season isn’t won yet, not by any stretch of the imagination. But because of Conte, Napoli may have already won their own battle, putting them in good stead to go all the way.