Napoli vs Arezzo: Allegri tests 4-3-3 in first summer friendly
Opens Massimiliano Allegri’s preseason with a 4-3-3 trial at Ski.it Arena in Carciato. The match kicks off at 18:00 and will air on DAZN, with SKY and NOW also…
CARCIATO — Napoli vs Arezzo marks Massimiliano Allegri’s first preseason line-up at the Ski.it Arena on Wednesday, July 22, with the Italian coach using a 4-3-3 for the club’s opening summer friendly. The match kicks off at 18:00 and gives the new Napoli boss an immediate first look at how his team reacts in match conditions.
The setup matters because Allegri is not treating this like a casual run-out. He has already named a shape, picked his starters and left a few established names on the bench. Early. Very early.
Allegri’s first Napoli vs Arezzo XI
According to Goal.com’s match report, Alex Meret starts in goal behind a back four of Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Marin and Gutierrez. In midfield, Anguissa lines up with the surprise selections of Prisco and Lindstrom, while Lobotka and Vergara begin on the bench.
Up front, Allegri goes with Giovane, Rasmus Hojlund and Alisson Santos. That front three is one of the clearest signals yet that the coach wants to see movement, combinations and pressing patterns from the first whistle.
Goal.com also said Allegri is using the 4-3-3 “per iniziare a dare vita al suo Napoli,” a phrase that fits the broader purpose of the night. This is not about the scoreline alone. It is about structure, spacing and the first draft of a system.
Why this first test matters
For Napoli, the opening friendly is the first public checkpoint of Allegri’s work. Friendlies rarely answer every question, but they do reveal who the coach trusts first and which players can already fit the plan. A summer line-up can be a hint. Sometimes it is a warning.
Vergara starting on the bench is one detail. Lobotka not starting is another. Both decisions suggest Allegri is willing to rotate at the very start rather than lean immediately on familiar names. Prisco and Lindstrom getting the nod from the beginning adds another layer to that picture.
That matters for supporters because preseason choices often shape the conversation around competition for places, especially in the middle of the park and in attack. If Allegri keeps using the same core, the hierarchy becomes clearer fast. If he keeps shifting pieces, the battle for minutes stays open.
Where to watch Napoli vs Arezzo
The match between Napoli and Arezzo will be shown live on DAZN, with SKY and NOW also carrying it on pay-per-view. That gives the game broad access across TV and streaming platforms on a day packed with summer friendlies.
The broadcast detail is important because this is the first chance to watch Allegri’s Napoli in a competitive-looking setting, even if the result itself will not define the season. For viewers, the interest is in the shape, the partnerships and the early rhythm of a team still being built.
At the back, Meret will be the first to set the tone. In front of him, the line is already drawn. Napoli vs Arezzo starts at 18:00, and the first answer from Allegri’s Napoli will come quickly.
