Napoli weigh Lobotka, De Bruyne and McTominay together against Roma

Napoli's midfield could look very different against Roma. For the game at the Maradona on Saturday 24 October, 18:00 CET (17:00 UK, 12:00 ET), one option is to bring Lobotka back into the starting line-up after he was left on the bench against Bodø/Glimt, and to play him alongside De Bruyne and McTominay.

De Bruyne's role would matter most. In this set-up the number 11 would move between central midfield and the number 10 position, find space behind the striker and hold the team's build-up together. McTominay would be left free to time his runs into the box.

The reasoning is easy to follow. On Tuesday 20 October the Scot scored twice and hit the bar on 60 minutes. If you need goals, getting him as close to the area as possible is the obvious move.

Where the idea comes from

The problem is the context. On Tuesday Allegri started Gilmour, with Lobotka and De Bruyne on the bench. Bodø/Glimt had 57% of the ball, took 15 shots to Napoli's 17 and scored three goals, the last on 90 minutes.

After the game the coach said it himself.

"When we are in our own half, we are fragile"

Moving to a system with a genuine number 10 behind the striker goes in the opposite direction to what that sentence would suggest.

The question of balance

That is our doubt. More quality in midfield almost always means fewer legs to cover ground. And whoever plays behind the striker also has to track back.

De Bruyne's October has been mixed. He scored two penalties against Frosinone on 10 October, then had a penalty saved by Stankovic at Venezia on 68 minutes. Building the new shape around him, in the biggest game of the month, is a bet on a player who has swung between decisive afternoons and games in which he disappeared.

The defence gives little room for risk. Rrahmani goes into the Roma game tired, Buongiorno is out after knee surgery on his meniscus, and Vergara trained for only half a session with the group and is doubtful.

Gasperini has gaps of his own. Koné and Pellegrini are out, Dybala is doubtful and Malen is back. Roma are third on 17 points, seven more than Napoli, who are ninth on 10 after seven matches.

This is the second test to which the club has tied Allegri's position, a day after Manna confirmed him on Wednesday 21 October. On Saturday we will see whether the coach looks for balance by adding quality, or by protecting the half of the pitch he himself called fragile. Against the side in third, the wrong answer will cost more than three points.