Napoli are top of the table of their own for the first time since winning the title in 2022/2023. Much of their early success has come from their defensive prowess. They quickly righted the ship after giving up three goals to Hellas Verona in the opener.
Not coincidentally, it was the only game where Alessandro Buongiorno didn’t play due to an ankle injury, Corriere dello Sport relays (via Gonfia la Rete). They have conceded just once in the ensuing five matches, a PK against Parma, while they have shut down Bologna, Cagliari, Juventus, and Monza.
The former Torino star was a precise request by Antonio Conte. Napoli won the race by moving early and meeting the Granata’s demands. A late attempt by Inter was easily foiled as the Partenopei simply had more money to spend.
The last time an opponent managed to dribble past Buongiorno happened on January 26th, 237 days ago, in a tilt versus Cagliari. He has stopped everybody in the 1513 minutes he spent on the pitch since.
The center-back has been the proper heir to Kim Min-Jae with a one-year delay, as their previous acquisitions didn’t pan out. He has fared brilliantly both in a three and a four-man line.
Our Take on Napoli and Buongiorno
He was a safe bet to succeed given the level he reached at Torino, but there’s always an element of risk when going from a minnow to a top team with the burden of expectations that comes from a large price tag. He was unfazed by that, and it’s noteworthy that the defensive adjustment went down without a hitch.
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