Juventus will return to Turin empty-handed as Luciano Spalletti failed to beat Napoli on his return to the Stadio Maradona.
The Juventus manager opted to field Kenan Yildiz as a false 9, supported by Francisco Conceicao and Weston McKennie, leaving Jonathan David and Lois Openda on the bench. Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram linked up in midfield, while Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal operated on the flanks.
On the other hand, Antonio Conte launched a 3-4-3 formation spearheaded by Rasmus Hojlund, flanked by Diego Neres and Noah Lang, while Scott McTominay and Eljijf Elmas combined in a makeshift double pivot.
Napoli dominate the first half
Napoli were the far better side from the get-go, firing an early warning through McTominay, whose header whistled past the post.
The home side then took a deserved lead in the sixth minute, when Neres skipped past Teun Koopmeiners before feeding Hojlund at the mouth of the goal. The Dane evaded Lloyd Kelly to poach it home.
As the minutes progressed, it became agonisingly obvious that Conte had the upper hand in the tactical battle, as Spalletti’s men were struggling to build from the back, while the long-ball option was equally sterile, especially in the absence of a battering ram upfront.
So while the Bianconeri couldn’t pose a threat at Napoli’s goal for the duration of the first half, the reigning champions were marginally close to doubling their lead on a few occasions, but Michele Di Gregorio made a fingertip save on Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s dipping attempt, while another McTominay header went begging.
Juventus had a short-lived equaliser in the second period
After the break, Napoli kept pushing for the second, but it was Juventus who forked out an equaliser almost out of nowhere with their first real chance of the game. A sublime team play culminated with McKennie providing the assist for Yildiz, whose precise shot found the bottom corner from an acute angle, leaving Sinisa Milinkovic-Savic.
However, the Bianconeri allowed their hosts to retake the lead with a gift of a goal. Neres tried to find Lang with a cross to the back post. McKennie was able to beat the Dutch winger to be ball, but his woeful ‘clearance’ caused more damage than good, as it allowed Hojlund to nod the ball home from close range.
Juve’s reaction was almost non-existent, especially since Yildiz and Conceicao were already hooked. Edon Zhegrova had an inviting opportunity in the final minute, but it was too central to trouble the goalkeeper.
The Bianconeri remain seventh in the standings, but they’re drifting alarmingly away from the Top Four spots.
Napoli 2-1 Juventus
Goals: 7′, 77′ Hojlund (N), 58′ Yildiz (J)
Napoli (3-4-3) : Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, McTominay, Elmas, Olivera (69′ Spinazzola); Neres (79′ Politano), Hojlund, Lang (85′ Vergara).
Juventus (3-5-2): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso (71′ Kostic), McKennie, Thuram (81′ Zhegrova), Locatelli, Cabal (46′ David); Conceicao (74′ Miretti), Yildiz (74′ Openda).
Yellow cards: Buongiorno 33′ (N), Kalulu 52′ (J), Beukema 70′ (N).
2 Comments
Terrible game with bunches of crap.
Kalulu always lost his position at defense. Too many times he neglected the opponent behind him on the right side this season and caused many goal loss.
No idea replacing Yildiz and Conceicao together, toothless.
Players had no desire to equalize except Loca
Napoli are not strong at all but we’re weaker. I don’t wanna c 80% of the players in the team.
Changing coaches and management is useless. The only redemption is to sell the club.
I don’t like the Napoli, but it was a fight of a weak, and a quite strong squad. The result is quite good for this weak Juventus, that is the “good” work of clown Comolli…
In the summer of 2025, everyone except Juventus’ management knew that the midfield and defense needed to be strengthened if we wanted to fight for the scudetto.
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