Napoli's Pre-Season Friendly Against Arezzo Sets Stage for 2026/27 Campaign SSC Napoli’s 2026/27 campaign kicked off with a pre-season friendly against newly promoted Serie B club Arezzo on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at the SKI.IT Arena in Dimaro, Val di Sole. The match marked Massimiliano Allegri’s debut as head coach, as he sought to implement a new tactical approach for the Italian giants. Allegri, who previously managed AC Milan and Juventus, aimed to shift Napoli away from its recent reliance on a three-man defensive system and adopt a 4-3-3 formation to enhance attacking options. The fixture provided Arezzo, which returned to Serie B after a 19-year absence, with a crucial opportunity to test its squad against a top-tier opponent. For Napoli, the match served as a chance to gauge the effectiveness of its revamped squad, which faced challenges due to the post-World Cup rest period and several injuries. Key players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Scott McTominay were absent, while defender Alessandro Buongiorno remained sidelined with a minor injury. Despite these setbacks, Napoli’s attacking trio of Rasmus Højlund, Matteo Politano, and Alisson Becker was expected to spearhead the team’s efforts. The tactical shift under Allegri was a focal point of pre-match speculation. Reports from the training camp indicated the coach’s intent to prioritize fluidity and width, with Højlund likely to lead the front line. The 4-3-3 formation was seen as a departure from Napoli’s traditional defensive solidity, reflecting Allegri’s emphasis on dynamic play. However, the team’s defensive adjustments would be critical, given the absence of key defenders and the need to balance attacking ambition with organizational stability.#massimiliano_allegri #ssc_napoli #arezzo #ski_it_arena #dimaro
