Juventus vs Napoli: Match Preview, Team News, Lineups and Prediction
Two Italian heavyweights, Juventus and Napoli, will face each other at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on matchday 15 of Serie A.
Juve are coming into this game after a 2-1 win over Monza after Federico Gatti scored a stoppage-time winner to give them all three points.
Whereas last season’s Scudetto champions Napoli are coming in this game after a 3-0 home defeat to league leaders Inter.
Match Preview
Despite finishing 7th last season in the Serie A and suffering a ban from UEFA for breaking the FFP rules, Juventus are looking to challenge for the title this year.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side are second in the Serie A table, just two points behind Inter. Furthermore, his side has also won 19 points in the last seven league matches.
The Old Lady are yet to suffer a home defeat this season in the Serie A, and if they do beat Napoli this weekend, they will leapfrog Inter to sit at the top of the table.
Napoli created history last season after winning the Scudetto for the first time since 1990, collecting 90 points in the process, 16 more than second-place Lazio.
However, they have started the season badly after Luciano Spalletti left them. Rudi Garcia was sacked after just four months due to poor results. Napoli have now appointed Walter Mazzarri as their new manager.
Napoli have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions, and their poor form this season have also cost them the Serie A title as they sit in 5th place, 11 points behind Inter.
Juventus team news
Mattia De Sciglio will miss out the game as he is out with a long-term injury. USA international Timothy Weah is out since the end of October after suffering a muscle injury. Paul Pogba is suspended after a doping ban, and Nicolo Fagiolo is suspended after betting allegations.
Federico Gatti scored the winner against Monza to give inter all three points and will start alongside Bremer in defence.
Allegri will trust Vlahovic again despite his poor goalscoring form, as he will start upfront alongside Federico Chiesa.
Napoli teams news
Napoli will once again be without their 26-year-old left-back Mathias Olivera. Their back-up left-back Mario Rui is also sidelined by injury.
Napoli’s star striker Victor Osimhen is expected to start this game. The Nigerian have not scored since returning from his injury, but will hope to score at the Allianz Stadium.
Khvicha Kvaratskheila will join Osimhen to lead Napoli’s attack against Juventus in this week’s blockbuster fixture.
Juventus vs Napoli: Predicted line-ups
Juventus (3-5-2): Szczesny; Sandro, Bremer, Gatti; Kostic, Rabio, Caviglia, McKennie, Cambiaso; Vlahovic, Chiesa
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Natan, Ostigard, Rrahmani, Di Lorenzo; Anguissa, Lobotka, Elmas; Kvaratskheila, Osimhen, Politano
Prediction
Juventus 2-0 Napoli
Juventus may have struggled last season against the big opposition, but this season, they are a tough team to beat. A win for them will put them at the top of the Serie A table.
Napoli are struggling this season, but if Mazzarri can earn a win against Juve, it will be a statement win which could also turnaround their season.
