Allegri's Napoli need a Lazio own goal to draw with the leaders

Napoli had six shots on target and Lazio's goalkeeper saved all six. The only goal that kept them in the game was scored by Pedraza, into his own net. That is where any verdict on Sunday 8 November's 1-1 draw with the league leaders has to start, because it shows the problem more clearly than any speech could.

A point that hides the trend

The context matters more than the point. Napoli came into the game after a 4-1 defeat in Porto and a 2-0 defeat to Juventus. The last five results read draw, win, defeat, defeat, draw: three games without a win.

Once again Lazio scored first. Frattesi struck in the 28th minute from Noslin's assist, and Napoli went in at half-time behind, with Lang booked. The equaliser came early in the second half, but Napoli did not create it. It was Lazio's mistake. Anyone selling this as the response of a team with fight in it is settling for far too little.

The questions start on the bench

The real issue is the dugout, and it is fair to say so from inside the debate that has the city divided. Allegri, back after his suspension, made four changes. Gilmour and Vergara, both booked midway through the second half, went off first, followed by Höjlund and De Bruyne. Anguissa, Politano, Lucca and Giovane came on.

After the 48th minute the score did not move for more than 40 minutes, while Lazio also reshuffled with Lazzari, Dele-Bashiru and Cancellieri. A coach answers for his choices, and the fanbase is right to ask where the brave Napoli that this squad should produce has gone.

The table offers no comfort

There is no kind way to read the table. Napoli are tenth with 15 points from 11 games, 14 behind Lazio and eight behind Como in fourth. Above them are Inter, Roma, Milan and Juventus, the sides this season should be measured against. So are Frosinone, Bologna and Cagliari.

Last season this club finished second and still treated that as a missed chance. For a club like that, tenth place is not a bump in the road. It is the sign of a team that still has no identity.

The transfer window is closed until 2 January, and until then only free agents can be signed. The answers have to come from this group and this coach, in the 13 days before Torino visit the Maradona on Saturday 21 November.

Promises of reinforcements will not help, and neither will the comfort of a point taken off the leaders. Napoli need to go ahead first and score their own goals. At home, from this position in the table, only a win will do.