Juventus aims to reclaim the top spot in Serie A when they host Napoli at the Allianz Stadium on Friday night in a highly anticipated clash.
The tight title race between Juventus and Inter Milan sees the teams separated by just two points.
Match Preview:
Despite Juventus sitting on 33 points out of 42, they are considered outsiders for the title. Massimiliano Allegri’s side has maintained consistent performances, securing wins with pragmatic play.
In their recent fixture against Monza, Juventus nearly secured a 1-0 victory until late drama resulted in a scruffy winner from Federico Gatti.
Napoli has proved challenging for Juventus lately, remaining unbeaten in the last four meetings and securing a 5-1 win against them last season.
However, Juventus has a history of success in this fixture, previously recording four consecutive wins.
Napoli, after suffering a 3-0 defeat against Inter, finds themselves outside the top four.
Under Walter Mazzarri, they seek improvement, having secured a win against Atalanta before facing challenging fixtures against Inter and Juventus.
Defense is a concern for Napoli, having conceded goals despite displaying decent performances. They’ll miss several key defensive players due to injuries, leaving them vulnerable at the back.
Juventus Serie A form: W W W W D W
Napoli Serie A form: W D W L W L
Napoli form (all competitions): W D L W L L
Team News:
Juventus faces defensive injury concerns with Mattia De Sciglio and Timothy Weah sidelined. Danilo’s return remains uncertain, while Daniele Rugani might feature in the back three.
Napoli suffers from defensive woes with multiple players injured, including left-backs Mario Rui and Mathias Olivera, while captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo faces doubts due to an injury sustained in training.
Victor Osimhen’s return adds strength to Napoli’s attacking options.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Juventus: (3-5-2)
Szczesny;
Gatti, Bremer, Rugani;
Cambiaso, McKennie, Nicolussi Caviglia, Rabiot, Kostic;
Chiesa, Vlahovic
Napoli: (3-4-3)
Meret;
Rrahmani, Ostigard, Natan;
Politano, Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski;
Raspadori, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Prediction: Juventus 1-0 Napoli
Juventus, known for their 1-0 victories under Allegri, are favored to secure a narrow win again. Despite Napoli’s improved form, Juventus’ strong defensive setup and their tactical approach could earn them a tight victory.