Napoli V Juventus
Serie A – Week 18 [Sunday, 11th January – 19:45 GMT] – Stadio San Paolo
Juventus
Juventus will have to put the Derby D’Italia and their recent run of draws behind them when they face a tricky visit to the Stadio San Paolo to face Napoli on Sunday.
The Bianconeri haven’t exactly had the best of Christmases, with only just the one victory to show for the entire month of December, a 3-1 away win against lowly Cagliari. The team travelled to Doha for the Supercoppa Italiana but lost out on penalties, followed by a disappointing start to 2015 after Tuesday night’s draw against Inter in the Derby D’Italia.
All the talk in the last few days has been of the possible arrival of Wesley Sneijder who Juve are apparently in negotations for, the hope being he will arrive in time to help Max Allegri rotate the squad for both the Champions League and Serie A.
Gianluigi Buffon has been one of the highlights of the season so far, his last two matches being particularly impressive and he’s expected to start in goal. Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are still the preferred central defence pairing, while Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra will likely start in their customary full back roles.
Allegri will hopefully stick to his best 4 midfielders with Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio playing in a 3-man central midfield while Arturo Vidal will play behind a front pairing of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente.
Predicted Lineup
4-3-1-2 : Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Pirlo, Pogba, Marchisio, Vidal; Tevez, Llorente
Injuries
Andrea Barzagli (Heel), Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo (Both undergone knee surgery)
Luca Marrone (Thigh) and Martin Caceres (Thigh) are returning to match fitness.
Napoli
Napoli have added two players since Juventus faced them in Doha: Ivan Strinic and Manolo Gabbiadini. They are not slated to start (things can change though), but they could find room during the game. Strinic is a solid and muscular left-back that replaces Faouzi Ghoulam, who’s partaking to AFCON, and will battle with the Algerian defender once he’ll be back. Gabbiadini is one more option on the right flank behind the lone striker, where he played last year and at Bologna, and another backup for Gonzalo Higuain. It will be interesting to see whether he’ll start consistently, considering the poor performances of Dries Mertens this season and that Jonathan De Guzman isn’t very effective on the left, but also the fee (with Josè Callejon moving on the other wing).
Most importantly, they arrive to this game with a lot of confidence, after defeating Juventus in the Super Cup on penalties and beating convincingly Cesena. Their attack is clicking: Higuain is in stellar form and Callejon and Marek Hamsik have resumed scoring. Cesena wasn’t certainly a tough test, but it boosted the morale that was already way up after coming back twice in the Super Cup. Like in Doha, Rafa Benitez won’t have Lorenzo Insigne, Juan Camilo Zuniga and Michu at disposal, plus Ghoulam. Migual Britos is set to start at LB: it makes the defensive line a little more physical, but Lichtsteiner could take advantage of his lack of pace.
San Paolo has been hostile to Juventus in recent years. The Turin side last won in Naples in 2000, losing five games (and two in a resounding way in the dark years) and drawing four. Conte’s Invincible Army came back form 3-1 to 3-3 three years ago: it was early in the season, but that game was instrumental in forging the identity of that Scudetto team. Last season, Conte’s 102-point squad lost 2-0. In addition, if you believe that this stuff can have an impact, it will be an emotional night as Napoli will pay homage to the home singer Pino Daniele who recently passed away.
Napoli are a tough match up for Juventus as they don’t need much room to score, especially when Higuain is in such good condition. Juventus will have to be careful with the ball in any position of the field, as they have many players who are able to counter quickly, but they are as good in an organized attack, as we have seen in the Super Cup. Their unpredictability is difficult to contain. I bet that at this point Napoli feel to have Juventus’ numbers: it will be up to Allegri’s squad to prove them wrong.
Predicted Lineup:
4-2-3-1 : Rafael; Maggio, Albiol, Koulibaly, Britos; Gargano, David Lopez; Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens; Higuain.
Injuries:
Juan Zuniga, Lorenzo Insigne, Michu and Faouzi Ghoulam
“£100,000 to whoever posts the first comment….”
I don’t think you’ll pay me….
it will be waiting for you in Fargo, a small town in the northern USA. i;ll bury it and mark it for you
Ahaha, I’ll steal it now
You’re in Minnesota?
I’ll be there in 2 days
our record in Naples ? No wins since 2000
We don;t do well down south
Predictions ?
2-2 draw
2-1 Juve
2-0 loss……. Or 3-0 win.
ive gone for juve 2-0.But these napoli merda is gonna be tough.
MAde this a sticky for the next few days – we can discuss the match here (and any other Serie A stuff)
Why isn’t Gio playing at all? Especially in the trequartista position? I need to see something fresh upfront
ive been saying the same thing. I rather not spend even 7 mil on sneijder when we already have giovinco who has the qualities to play as a trequartista
You’re saying Giovinco is equal to Sneijder?….
I think it’s because his contract is running out and he isn’t interested in extending if he doesn’t get to be a starter. I think that’s why he’s not playing at all and he’ll be gone in January.
I still like him tho, he’s no striker but he’s fast, can beat a player and is pretty good at free kicks. Just so easy to beat him down to the floor for opponents
It might have something to do with him being shit player.
no matter who we face, i want juve to win. realistically though, i guess a draw would be expected but it’d really pile the pressure on the team, especially if roma beat lazio and go into first.
Which most likely will happen
GdS saying Juve could go back to 3-5-2 for this game…..could go either way.
If we hog possession we’ll always rick them hitting us on the counter which they do so often.
If we stick with 4-3-1-2 and keep attacking that weak defence, we stand a better chance IMHO
Allegri: “Januzaj & Mkhitaryan are two excellent players, but they are
playing for United & Dortmund. We’ll see if we can get them. ”
BOOM ! (In true Tancredi style)
Seeing a few posts about mkhitaryan and januzaj and such.
Imo, we dont have room for trying out talent like that right now. Maybe in the summer try someone like that, but we are focused on the tasks at hand. We need to reinforce positions. Mkhit isnt a horrible choice since he would be useful behind our strikers. We arent going to find a good non-cuptied striker right now either.
do you honestly think bvb would weaken themselves right now? they’re struggling like crazy in the league and they’d lose a good player. i just don’t see it happening
I think it’s only Allegri responding to the rumours and the fact Mino Raiola was in Turin to see Pogba – All of a sudden, he has offered all his clients to Juventus. This morning it’s Balotelli ! I don’t believe it ….but it’s nice to know we have such good relations with him 😉
hey, i’ll take anything that can get pogba to stay as long as possible with us lol
NAPOLI MERDA ALE NAPOLI MERDA ALE NAPOLI MERDA ALE
0-2 LAZIO!!! ROAMA MERDA
LAZIIIIIIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 1 – 0 ROMA
Felipe
NOW 2-0 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fELIPE ANDERSON SHOW !!!!
https://vine.co/v/ODaFVAWbqPw
had a feeling today about lazio…..im wanting 3 points now tonight,anything is possible!!!FORZA JUVE!!!!
Great day so far for us, dino – just need to beat Napoli now !
Too right rav dude……if we are solid all over the pitch we will win,im confident,as ever lol.
Roma getting spanked. Couldn’t be a better start to the day.
Felipe Anderson is a beast
Goal + Assist v Roma
Goal + 2 Assists v Samp
2 Goals v Inter
2 Assists v Atalanta
Goal v Parma
Goal v Varese
Yes he is.
In the name of sport im gonna swap my juve scarf for a napoli one………LOL just wanted to raise eyebrows….Im having a wicked sunday so far,accumulator looking good,roma getting spanked,pasta was lovely,drinks are flowing…..AND THEN THE JUVE ARE GONNA ROCK IT!!!!
LORD PADOIN HAS WON MORE SCUDETTI THAN TOTTI!!
Francesco Totti…. What more can I say?
resprct to totti!
scored a goal. took a selfie – totti
hey at least roma didnt get all 3 points. lets hope we do!
FT: Roma 2 – 2 Lazio
all in our hands tonight
FORZA JUVE !!!!!
JUVE JUVE JUVE JUVE JUVE JUVE JUVE JUVE
i want the win but its good to know that even if we draw, the pressure on allegri and the players won’t be that much. if roma had won and overtaken us, then some people would’ve been calling for allegri’s head lol
Daily star says we want Jovetic now that ManCity have Bony. Don’t know why I even bother posting this.. It’s Daily Star.
I do like it tho.
its all news though mate,keep posting the talk dude!…here in the uk also reporting balotelli to us!!!bloody hell!!dont know what to think….it could work though??
I don’t know Dino, he’s too unreliable. Can allegri talk sense into Balo? It is time for some positive news for us, and i don’t think Jovetic is cuptied. We need someone behind the strikers tho
agreed mate!!id love jovetic,are city really willing though?
Good question, i thought he didn’t really play but it seems he’s played 12 games (mostly as a sub) for them this season and scored 5. That’s not too bad.
He couldn’t at Milan, so no he can’t.
Forgot Balo actually played for allegri, you’re absolutely right.
jovetic and balo are both cuptied. i don’t want balo but i’d take jovetic on loan
Yes me too 🙂
Apparently we made a Loan offer for him with option to buy for 25 Mil at the end of the season. I would be so damn happy if this happened
I would be too! But it doesn’t sound like something Marotta would do..
The fact that we haven’t won in Naples since 2000 should be enough motivation for our players to go out and win this tonight.
and the recent super cup loss too. the motivation is all there but it’s whether we are able to perform or not.
lineups
Gabbiadini signed for Napoli? When did that happen?
Last week.
our passing is dreadful holy lord
fucking black shorts
That excuse is no longer valid… Allegri lifted the curse earlier in the season
POGBA HOLY FUCK
PogBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
Pogbaaaaa 1-0
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL POGBOOOOOOOOOM FORZA JUVE NAPOLI MERDA GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Caceres!!!!!!! 2-1
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL CACERESSSS
Gabbiadini coming in..
great game
gg
we ended our sao paolo problem!
Vidal!!!!! 3-1
ARTURO
VIDAL
ARTURO
VIDAL
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
el pelado my motm. classic comeback goal and continued where he left off by being our best defender. this could be his season.
If we have continued with 4-3-1-2, we can score 5 or 7 goals.
forza juve.
What a victory. Speechless
https://vine.co/v/ODmmzmuPpMY
Post match review is up here – https://www.juvefc.com/napoli-1-3-juventus-match-review/
You can discuss the match there is you like