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Five reasons why Napoli will win the Scudetto this season

By jc

TURIN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Juventus player Paulo Dybala and Napoli player Kalidou Koulibaly during the Serie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Juventus player Paulo Dybala and Napoli player Kalidou Koulibaly during the Serie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images) /
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Exultation after goal of Lorenzo Insigne (SSC Napoli)during the Italian Serie A football SSC Napoli v Parma Calcio 1913 S. Paolo Stadium in Naples on September 26, 2018 (Photo by Paolo Manzo/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /

1. Napoli’s top attackers return for the Scudetto chase

Napoli had one of the most exciting attacking groups in Serie A last season. The forwards combined for 55 goals, the midfielders scored 13 goals, and the defenders chipped in with five goals.

The trio of Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens, and Arkadiusz Milik spearheaded Napoli’s attack. Milik had his first healthy season with Napoli, and the striker led the way with 17 goals. None of these were even scored from the penalty spot.

Mertens, who played in a centralized role up front, was next with 16 goals. Insigne dominated the left wing for Napoli and finished with 10 goals. Napoli’s top three attackers accounted for over half of the club’s 74 Serie A goals.

Players who have successful seasons are often snatched up by bigger and richer clubs the following summer. Napoli, however, did well to ensure that Insigne, Mertens, and Milik return for the upcoming season. Milik has been the subject of transfer rumors, but Napoli will only offload him in a swap deal for Mauro Icardi, according to ESPN.

Out of the 74 goals Napoli scored last season, only two of them came from players who are no longer with the team. This means that Napoli starts the season again with one of the league’s most prolific offenses.

With its top three attackers back for the 2019-2020 season, expect Napoli to finish near the top of Serie A in goals scored. Keep a close eye on Milik, who is a quiet candidate to lead the league in goals.

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