Napoli v Juventus
Serie A Week 30 – Sunday, 2nd April – 19:45 GMT – Stadio San Paolo
Juventus
Just as it looked like that the international break was going swimmingly with early returns for Gonzalo Higuain, Dani Alves, Miralem Pjanic, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Andrea Barzagli thanks to either suspensions or coaches’ decisions, the Marko Pjaca news was a gut punch. It is excruciating that the youngster got severely hurt twice with Croatia and will now miss the rest of season and basically the whole summer because he blew out his knee.
The winger is obviously not a starter or a centerpiece of the XI, but he was a valuable backup and his role was set to become bigger and bigger in a busy stretch of the schedule. His absence will be sorely felt, starting from this Sunday when the Bianconeri are dealing with other injury concerns, and further delay his complete introduction in the rotations and slow his improvement. Simply a bummer. Here’s hoping to a full recovery: he has already undergone surgery and from the reports only the ACL and the meniscus tore, and that is positive. Had he damaged the MCL or the LCL as well, the recovery would have taken longer because he would have had to wait for the operation. Some guys have returned in four months after such an injury, however the standard time is six and I would prefer to err on the side of caution in this one: the last thing you want is a relapse.
Furthermore, Mario Mandzukic has a sore knee and there is pessimism on this front, and the condition of Paulo Dybala is murky because he took tests with his national team after exiting the Sampdoria game: he did not play with Argentina and his availability will be in question till the last minute. He and Juan Cuadrado returned very late, as it is often the case with South Americans, and that is one more issue. As a matter of fact, the Colombian is not set to start because of all the traveling and jet lag stuff. That leaves the coaching staff with very few offensive weapons at their disposal. Ironically enough, the attack will all fall on the shoulders of Gonzalo Higuain as he pays a visit to his former team: I am sure the welcome back will be very warm.
Massimiliano Allegri has not given away much about the possible lineup, but looked rather non-committal about deploying Dybala and Mandzukic if they are not 100%. However, he stated that 4-2-3-1 is possible even without them, obviously it would be a rather different approach and somebody would have to adapt to a new position, so let’s try to piece it together. Alex Sandro could advance, or Cuadrado could play on the left, with Dani Alves as right winger. Miralem Pjanic could play as the ’10’, or Cuadrado as second striker. At Fiorentina, the Colombian has played at basically any position. I would guess that Cuadrado-Pjanic-Sandro, with Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira in the midfield, is the most likely option if Dybala is ultimately out.
Dropping 4-2-3-1, the coaching staff would have plenty of alternatives because the defence and the midfield are almost at full strength; 3-5-2 or 4-3-2-1 would be the first fall-back options.
Moise Kean got injured in the Viareggio Cup and is slated to miss up at least two weeks: he would not have been an option in the next two massive games, but I could see the coach fielding him against the easiest opponents and he could potentially play also as left winger.
Napoli has historically been a difficult town for Juventus: they have won only once in the last eleven trips, in a very clutch situation two years ago. Hopefully the numbers will catch on Wednesday, when they will be allowed to draw or to lose by one goal. For the first time in a long while, Juventus are not actually favoured to win according to the bookmakers.
UPDATE: Dybala and Mandzukic are both in the squad list and there is optimism Mandzukic will be able to start. The latest reports indicate a very strange trio behind Higuain: Mario Lemina, Pjanic and Mandzukic. That would be odd because Alves has been at Vinovo for a week, but we will see. Anyway, such lineup could quickly switch to a 4-3-1-2.
Probable lineup:
4-2-3-1: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Asamoah; Khedira, Marchisio; Cuadrado, Pjanic, Sandro; Higuain.
Injuries:
Pjaca (knee).
Suspensions:
None.
Napoli
Napoli are in third position and are constantly putting pressure on Roma as they try to avoid finishing third and going through the daunted UCL play-off. They play brilliant football and they are having one heck of a season. They have last only once in their last eleven Serie A matches and only twice at San Paolo in the domestic league.
After the break, they are dealing with some problems themselves, but they should all be resolved in time. The most serious one regards Pepe Reina, who left the Spanish camp because of a calf ailment and has trained on his own for two weeks: the replacement would be Rafael and not Luigi Sepe. Anyway, the Spaniard is a charismatic figure, but he is pretty average at this point as a goalkeeper. Elseid Hysaj has a mild ankle sprain and Marek Hamsik is nursing some muscle fatigue: Christian Maggio and Piotr Zielinski would enter the XI, but the two regular starters are slated to feature from the get-go.
There are other doubts involving the midfield: as a matter of fact, Maurizio Sarri, fresh off a rather controversial “Panchina d’oro” win, has rotated Jorginho and Amadou Diawara in the focal position and Allan and Zielinski as right-hand side box-to-box. Diawara did not perform well when he was subbed in against Empoli, drawing the ire of the coach, so he should sit in this one. Allan will accompany Jorginho to maintain a decent level of physicality.
There is always some chatter in Napoli about when Arkadiusz Milik is going to play a full game after an excellent start of the season ruined by a devastating knee injury. However, Dries Mertens as false-nine is working wonders and there is no need to disrupt anything for a player who is not up to speed yet. The squad has shown also in the brief stints by Leonardo Pavoletti, that it has adapted to having the Belgian attacker up front and that it struggles to play with a pure center-forward now.
Napoli are powered by their offense: they have scored the most goals in Serie A and when the whole trident gets it going, they are almost impossible to guard. Lorenzo Insigne and Mertens are having fantastic seasons, while José Maria Callejon, albeit not scoring much lately, is always a nuisance. The departure of Higuain has caused the scoring duties to distribute and everybody has taken advantage, including Hamsik and Zielinski.
Even though Allan is expected to start, Zielinski has played a lot and could be very dangerous off the bench because of his breaks and shooting. Marko Rog has come into his own recently and is becoming a similar player: very technical and explosive, ready to take advantage of the tiredness of the opponents late in the game.
On the other side, their defence is not elite and that is maybe to be expected with so many offensive-minded guys on the pitch at the same time. Kalidou Koulibaly is capable of monster performances but he has not had many this year, while Raul Albiol is out there mostly for his experience and his corporate knowledge.
Especially at home, they are ball dominant and play in the opponent’s half, creating a wealth of opportunities. Mertens, Insigne, Callejon, Hamsik, Zielinski and Rog are all quick twitch players that can leave the defender in the dust with a sudden move. They have also many great shooters and sweet finishers and assist-men. The challenge presented by such a small attack is clear and Juventus do not have particularly speed defenders. They attack down both flanks and especially hit so fast once they recover the ball.
They will be without Lorenzo Tonelli because of a knee problem and probably Emanuele Giaccherini who has picked up a muscular injury late in the week, but they are both fringe players.
Probable lineup:
4-3-3: Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Mertens, Insigne.
Injuries:
Giaccherini (hamstring), Tonelli (knee).
Suspensions:
None.
I hope Higuain scores a hat trick tomorrow. The Neopolitans are starting to make me sick with this venom towards us and Pipita. They made 90 fuckin million off that sale, a sale that could set them up for years. Fuck them.
I’m going to do another Q& A ahead of Juve v Barca – if you have any questions for our guest blogger, please feel free to post them here. Grazie !
Here’s something basic: If they could pick any Juve player of their choice to play for Barca, BUT they would have to give us one of our choice, which Juve player would they ask for? “None, our team is perfect” or “doesn’t worth the risk” kind of answers are not accepted. 😛
Also: Are there any more half-decent players they want to throw away as they did with Dani Alves? Asking for a friend.
Is it the same guy from last time we met Barca? I was rather unimpressed with the arrogance displayed from those guys.
different guy 😉
Phew 😛
April will mean so much this season. Hope the guys stay fit and no more injuries!! And to continue the trend started below!!!!!
Yeah fuc em all!!!!!!!!!!
Sportively of courseeee!!!!?!!!!!
No Rugani again?
How great would it be if we’d win twice at the San Paolo and man i’m asking for a lot here but i hope higuain scores a hattrick! Potentially scudetto decider this evening. Let’s do this, Forza Juve!!
Caldara with anothe goal today, that’s 6 on the season. Can anyone explain to me why are going to spend this much money on benatia when there’s already a CB that’s at least equal in performance and way younger. Caldara is ready for Juventus, i really hope they don’t exercise benatias option. Complete waste of money and waste of caldaras talent.
I don’t know about our chances of winning this one, Napoli have all the momentum. I think Higuain scoring would incite a riot lol
they have blue whistles to use against Higuain when he’s in possession. Them losers.
Khedira!!!!!!!!!!
Haha 😛
why barzagli,why not rugani!!?!?!
Not many positive take always from this game, Napoli dominated from the first minute. I can’t remember a stretch of time when we actually looked like we were in control. The midfield looked completely clueless today, mandzukic was a ghost the whole game. Anyone thinking we are going to win champions league with him in the middle is a hugeeee optimist. They kept trying to play over the top long passes which had zero effect. Allegri brought on cuadrado as our savior…. yeah I’m sure that’s going to work against Barcelona. We played with zero creativity, I don’t think Higguain got one decent ball forward to work with, again if Mandzukic is going to be our left middfielder in big games and we play with one striker then might as well give up on Champions league. This is a rare occasion where allegri was completely clueless, make no mistake! Napoli deserved at least another goal. It would’ve been useful to bring up kean in this game, with dybala not 100% I don’t understand Allegris approach here, he was playing for a draw. Napoli looked fearless and really pressed all game long, while we sat back and couldn’t put one decent pass together. With Pjaca out all year, we have cuadrado as our wild card, mandzukic as left midfielder and rugani collecting dust on the bench…. strange times my friends, really strange. Allegri takes microscopic steps to incorporate new players in to the team, today was really a wake up call. Our chances vs Barcelona are 30% at best, this team looked completely clueless today.
I was watching the game with one eye due to guests, but from what I saw it seemed like a collective off-day, which might come down to a tactical choice.
We have a lot of tough games ahead and this will require Allegri to use our players cleverly. With the injuries we have now, it seemed like he wanted to rely on the formation which have worked brilliantly for us. But with Napoli angry, hungry and motivated, we could just “wing it”, so we went for the next best thing “damage control”.
I don’t like it and especially not against a team like Napoli, but I understand that there is a second leg of the coppa to be played as well as a champions league game.
To settle for a draw yesterday is something that I can live with, if Allegri and the players agree that all focus should be on CHL and the Coppa.
Clueless and all and we did not lose. My friend we were completely clueless for 55 min against BM in the first leg yet should have been 4 0 up in the return. Yesterday we went for a draw. Were was the second goal coming from. I DONT remember two decent saves. We will see in the next game
Anyone that plays for a draw lacks the will to be champions,especially with a full starting force. There were moments of hope during the RM game but yesterday we look clueless from the getgo. Also, keep in mind most of the team that beat RM is gone, we lack any sort of leadership now. A sobering wake up call but if you really think this team has the same will as the one from 2015 you’re fooling yourself. Didn’t mean to come off harsh but champions produce results not excuses.
Bayern Munich just a year ago. I was refering to BM. Many of our players were coming from international duties this weekend. Lets wait till wednesday if we go through its job done. This year even RM you are mentioning had a terrible half in Naples. You know
they play good football after all and have good players and a good coach.
Oh you’re completely right. But it’s not just this game. This is the weird thing: Allegri plays this game ALL the time. We have an attacking formation and what does Allegri have us do? We score one goal, and then retreat and hide, letting the opposition take control and making us suffer the whole game. This will simply not work against Barca. It’s why we’ve tied udinese and lost to milan and inter. With this formation, we need to be pressed high, we need to be giving Higuain the ball, and we need shots. 3 shots a game is nothing.
I think we need a new coach. May be a bit radical, but you can’t take a team like this, the best we’ve had in a while, and make it look horrible. If conte did it with a bunch of nobodies then anyone can make it work with the likes of Mandzuckic, Higuain, Khedira, etc.
Results is what count my friend. I am not a huge fan of Allegri truth be told. But seeing Emery’s Psg get 6 in one of the most ridiculous comebacks of all time, seeing Arsenals getting how may 10, the only option would be Simeone who play just worse than Allegri. Who would you put as our coach just for curiosity.
Just look at the graphical formation up there. You cant have lemina and manzu as your attacking wingers because they cannot dribble nor they have the flair.
How can you get get out of your area if two from three options are not good.
Adding dybala was out as well. Thats sums up sundays game.Still we got a draw.
I wish that were the case. But this has happened when we’re at full strength this season.