Hojlund returns, Napoli wins hard to keep top spot in Serie A

In the 69th minute at Via del Mare, from a dead ball situation on the right wing, David Neres crossed the ball just in time for Zambo Anguissa to jump high and head it, bringing a minimal victory for Napoli. A neat, timely moment, and enough for Antonio Conte's team to leave Lecce with 3 points, continuing to hold the top spot in Serie A after 9 rounds.

Turning point in the 69th minute: Anguissa decides the game

Napoli were largely deadlocked before Anguissa struck. The few chances they missed were Lucca’s header wide after a cross from captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo. With Lecce sitting deep, Napoli needed something other than central combinations – and they found the answer with dead balls: Neres crossed to the right spot, Anguissa broke free and punished.

It was also Anguissa's fourth goal in nine Serie A games this season – a number that reflects his growing role in the penalty area, alongside his usual physical duties in midfield.

Conte switched to 4-3-3 because De Bruyne was injured

Kevin De Bruyne is out injured for a long time (expected to miss most of the first leg) forcing Conte to switch to a 4-3-3. Scott McTominay was left on the bench to manage his fitness in the 3-day/match schedule, giving Billy Gilmour the reins in the central midfield role, along with Elif Elmas and Anguissa.

Gilmour Axis and Noa Lang Left Wing

Without McTominay from the start, Napoli built their rhythm through Gilmour: receiving the ball early, changing direction, finding space in the middle and then moving the ball out wide. Noa Lang started for the first time alongside Matteo Politano and Lucca, helping Napoli increase their penetration down the left – an area where they pressed the ball strongly after the 30th minute. However, finishing was lacking: some of their attacks were often blocked by inaccurate final options.

Lecce lurks for mistakes and opportunities from the 11m mark

Lecce chose a slow tempo, waiting for Napoli to make a mistake to counterattack. In the 25th minute, Mathias Olivera lost the ball in the middle of the field, Pierotti won it, opening a quick transition that ended with Berisha's shot that made Vanja Milinkovic-Savic's goal wobble. In the second half, the home team had the biggest chance from the 11m mark, but Camarda could not beat Napoli's goalkeeper.

Hojlund returns, McTominay enters the field to lock down the middle

In the 61st minute, Rasmus Hojlund returned after 3 games absent due to a muscle injury. A few minutes later, McTominay also joined in, helping Napoli strengthen their fighting power in midfield and tighten the tempo. From that point on, the away team controlled the spaces better, minimizing Lecce's dangerous transitions.

After the opening goal, Napoli proactively managed risks: pulling the team into a tight structure, controlling the second-half battles, limiting the loss of the ball in the home half – a lesson learned from the Olivera situation in the 25th minute. Conte's bravery and defensive organization helped them preserve their fragile advantage.

Selected statistics

• Anguissa scored 4 goals in 9 Serie A matches 2025/26.
• The goal came in the 69th minute, from a free kick on the right wing, David Neres crossed – Anguissa headed.
• Rasmus Hojlund returned in the 61st minute after three matches absent due to a muscle injury.
• Napoli missed a clear chance with Lucca's shot going wide from Di Lorenzo's cross.
• Lecce missed a chance from the 11m mark when Camarda's shot failed to beat Milinkovic-Savic.
• Conte rotates: McTominay is on the bench at the beginning of the match to manage the match load every 3 days.

Impact on Serie A race

The hard-fought but valuable victory helped Napoli maintain their top spot after 9 rounds. With a tight schedule and De Bruyne absent for a long period, Conte's optimisation of resources - giving Gilmour a controlling role, taking advantage of Anguissa's penetration and the impact from the bench of Hojlund and McTominay - will be key to maintaining the winning streak.

Next round, Napoli meet Cesc Fabregas' Como - another challenge in the context of a tight schedule and the minimum requirement of victory can still be a familiar scenario.