Napoli vs Juventus Means War
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Juventus can end any faint hope Napoli have of winning Serie A this season by taking maximum points from this game but the match means so much more than that for the Napoli faithful.
This game will be the second time former Napoli favourite, Gonzalo Higuain, has played his previous club since moving in the summer. However, this will be the first time he has played Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo and the atmosphere is going to be something to behold.
Not only is this a match between two of the top teams in Italy and the ‘homecoming’ of Higuain, it sees the best attack in Italy come up against the toughest defence. It is a clash between the north and south of Italy and two teams who frankly don’t like each other.
Will the creative forces of Napoli break down the well-oiled machine of Juventus and ignite the Serie A title race going into the final months of the season?
There are no major injury worries for Napoli and Maurizio Sarri ahead of this game. Elseid Hysaj is rated as doubtful but the remainder of the first choice XI should be fit and available. This means an exciting front three of Jose Callejon, Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens, with Marek Hamsik operating in the centre of midfield.
Juventus manager, Massimiliano Allegri is without Marko Pjaca, who is out for the rest of the season. The Croatian midfielder has suffered a knee injury and this will see almost guaranteed starts for Juan Cuadrado, Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic behind striker, Higuain. The midfield duo of Sami Khedira and Miralem Pjanic are expected to start in-front of a back four.
Juventus will be targeting Napoli’s weak point, which is their defence. Sarri’s team have kept only two clean sheets in 2017, conceding goals in fourteen of their sixteen matches. This will be music to the ears of the Juventus, who managed to score 23 goals in the same period of time. There is no doubt, the Napoli back four and central midfield will have to play very well, to prevent Juventus from scoring.
However, Napoli will be aiming to take the pressure of their defence by playing on the front foot. They have failed to score a goal in only three matches this season, which is a very good record. They also scored at the Juventus Stadium in the reverse fixture, so will call upon that as evidence they can break down a strong Juventus unit.
Juventus will remain tough in the central areas and force Napoli to play down the flanks, knowing the will comfortably win any balls which a are crossed into the box from wide positions. The main task facing Napoli, is to pull Juventus’ defence out of position, which is easier said than done.
Trends show Napoli are undefeated in thirty-two of their last thirty-four matches and have lost to Juventus once in the last ten league meetings between the teams at the San Paolo. So, playing at home makes a huge difference to Napoli in this game and they could come out on top, with both teams scoring, in what has the makings of a fiery encounter.
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