Napoli sit tenth on 15 points, 14 behind leaders Lazio

Nine points off the top four and without a win in three, Napoli can't afford another slip when Torino visit the Maradona on Saturday 21 November.

by Gennaro SanninoMonday 9 November, 00:29 CET· yesterday

Napoli-Lazio Decimi dopo il pari con la Lazio: davanti corrono, noi no — Grafica Arena Napoli

The number that matters most is the gap. Lazio lead on 29 points, Inter are on 28 and Roma on 27. That leaves Napoli 14 points off the top.

Fourth place, held by Milan on 24, is 9 points away. Every side has played 11 matches, so there is no game in hand to close the gap. Napoli are tenth on 15 points, and that is where they really stand.

The teams just above hurt more

The table is tight closer to home, and that is almost harder to take. Juventus are on 18, three points clear. Bologna have 17, and Cagliari sit one point ahead on 16. Frosinone, on 20, are five points better off, and Como are on 23.

Given Napoli's history and wage bill, these are not teams the club should be looking up at.

One win in five

The recent run explains how it got here. In the last five matches Napoli have won once, away at Monza. After that, Roma came from behind to draw 3-3 at the Maradona, Juventus won 2-0 and Porto won 4-1. Sunday 8 November brought another draw. That makes three games without a win.

Allegri, and the squad, under scrutiny

This is where the debate gets heated, and it did not start this week. Part of the fanbase is openly protesting against Allegri and calling for a change of coach. Another part is still backing the team.

Allegri is under contract until 30 June 2029 and was chosen in the summer to succeed Conte. A coach answers for results, and with the table as it stands on Monday 9 November, it is fair to ask where the improvement is.

The bench is not the only place that owes answers. The board built this squad, and it has questions to answer too. The transfer window is shut until 2 January 2027, so until then Napoli have to make do with the players they have.

Torino: no room for another draw

Torino come to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday 21 November, kick-off 20:45 CET (19:45 UK, 14:45 ET). They are below Napoli in the table, and this is exactly the kind of match where the fanbase will not accept another home draw.

That game should show whether this is a dip in the season or the start of a bigger problem. There is still time to get back on track. But the gap to the top is already there in the table for everyone to see.