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It's not really a surprise that Juventus have been Serie A champions six times in a row. With the squad depth, quality, and mentality they possess, it only makes sense that other clubs in the league still have a lot to improve in order to pose a threat to the dominance of The Old Lady.
That was the case until this season. Napoli is currently at the top of the Serie A table and even though the sides differ by just one point, Juventus seems to have lost some of its charm with unexpected losses against Sampdoria and Lazio.
Napoli has made good use of this and kept their composure at the top, having been up there for quite some time now.
Considering the form of the players, it would leave a bitter taste for the club to slip up and allow Juventus a record seventh consecutive league title.
With both Milan teams down the pecking order when it comes to title contenders for a few years, the Rome teams: AS Roma, and Lazio alongside Napoli have been tasked with keeping La Vecchia Signora honest.
The Paternopei has suffered just a single defeat in the league this season, against Juventus, of course.
In spite of that loss, Maurizio Sarri's men have held their nerve and not allowed any further mistakes. A talented squad, the team chemistry has been fantastic this year and so has been the coach's involvement with improved tactics. Still, there are some players with standout performances.
#1 Lorenzo Insigne
The prolific Italian winger has been in sublime form this season. Young, gifted, and packed with energy, Insigne has been amazing on the flanks, always terrorizing the full-backs, thereby leaving ample space for Dries Mertens to exploit. Having hit the net 5 times and setting up 6 more goals this season, Lorenzo Insigne has been a vital player for Napoli so far.
#2 Dries Mertens
When Napoli was struggling in the final third, Dries Mertens came as the Messiah. The attacking midfielder cum winger turned into a full-time striker. And he is revelling in that role as well. Having already smashed 13 goals and 6 assists, he is a top contender for the Serie A player of the year award.
His formidable partnership with Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon have enabled the trio to play like their minds are interconnected, ripping apart every defence they come across.
#3 Marek Hamsik
The Napoli captain has really stepped up his game this season. With 4 goals to his name, the Slovakian midfield maestro has been an absolute tank of a player when it comes to defensive duties. He also became Napoli's all-time top scorer with 117 goals. Often hidden in the shadows of the attackers, he has really taken the game by the scruff everytime he stepped on the pitch this season.
#4 Kalidou Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly has arguably been the best centre back of the league this season. Winning balls in the air, regaining possession, last-minute goal saving tackles, this guy has done all that and beyond. Koulibaly has a pass accuracy of 91% and has won 59 % of all tackles.
A calm head in a one-on-one situation, Koulibaly also helps out in attack and has 4 goals and an assist to his name. His goal-scoring and ball-playing abilities make him the complete package.
