To say Napoli have been unimpressive so far this season would be something of an understatement.
Rafael Benitez enjoyed an opening season win over Genoa followed by a shocking 1-0 home loss to Chievo Verona on the weekend. More than a fluke, the loss augured a negative dynamic that the club could spiral down.
The season started in mid-August for Napoli, 13 days before all the other Serie A teams not involved in Europe. Napoli kicked off their campaign hosting Athletic Club in the Champions League play-off round. They drew at home and lost the return fixture, failing to qualify for the group stages.
The 4-2 aggregate defeat consolidated a gloomy atmosphere around the San Paolo that had lingered about ever since the summer transfer window.
In effect the lack of signings was something of a brake to the positive dynamic Napoli had launched last year. Although they had missed out on an automatic qualification for the Champions League group stages, Napoli still managed to comfortably secure third place. After they finished last season undefeated in their last five games, scoring 14 goals, most expected that their ascending form would carry on to today.
In truth however, there is nothing as deceptive as momentum and linear trajectories in football.
Last season’s success, both in the league and in winning the Coppa Italia, created a lot of anticipation as fans looked towards their third Champions League participation in the last four years.
The big-money signings of Gonzalo Higuain and arrival of European-specialist Benitez the year prior had increased expectation levels in Naples. However, the lack of activity severely hamstrung Napoli’s impetus, psychologically and in terms of perception at least.
It was not through lack of trying that Napoli failed to keep the positive dynamic going however. The Partenopei targeted many players during the transfer window, mostly in central midfield, and failed to bring in any of note.
The lack of Champions league football only further exacerbated the lack of signings and gangrened the atmosphere around the club to the point of initiating the sluggish start of the season.
Indeed at this point last year, Napoli had just defeated Atalanta 2-0 after a resounding 4-2 away victory against Chievo, and ahead of their 2-1 home win against Dortmund in their Champions League opener. Today, Napoli are looking ahead to a Europa League opening match against Sparta Prague.
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It is certainly too early to discount Napoli for this year of course; but the penalty Higuain failed to convert, in a game Napoli controlled and dominated, encapsulated the negative vibe around the club.
In a recent past, failures during the Champions League play-off round have been something of bad omens for Serie A clubs. Prior to Napoli, Udinese and Sampdoria endured grueling and disappointing seasons after failures to advance to the Champions League group stages. Like Napoli, those clubs had enjoyed vastly successful seasons prior to seeing their confidence deflate for failing to gain access to Europe’s greatest competition.
Given most Serie A clubs’ approach to the Europa League, it is hard to gauge how seriously Napoli will take the competition. Given the start of the season though, Benitez might not have much of a choice. After all, the fans booed the team off the field and reports would have it that the Spanish coach’s job is already under threat.
Such fears are too hasty however, and the Napoli season is just now starting. A victory against Sparta Prague won’t mean much of anything but it can be the trigger to re-initiate the club’s better form.
After all, with a pre-season Champions League play-off in mid-August, and the start of Serie A interrupted by a two-week international break, it is no wonder Napoli have been sluggish out of the starting blocks.
If the European cup specialist Benitez can grab a convincing win on Thursday night and bottle the fervor of the San Paolo crowd, Napoli have everything in them to buck the trend of the likes of Sampdoria and Udinese before them and enjoy another fruitful season.
You can follow Ogo Sylla on Twitter at: @RossonerOgo_3
