Napolivs.Juventus

A gap of 13 points separates the sides, with the in-form Azzurri intent on extending their five-game success streak against Juve on home turf.

Match preview

Napoli's title credentials were fully put to the test last weekend, when Antonio Conte's side emerged with flying colours from a clash between two of Italy's top three.

After trailing to an early goal, Matteo Politano slammed the Campanian club level in Bergamo, before Scott McTominay made it 2-1. When La Dea struck back during the second half, Romelu Lukaku stepped up to score a crucial third.

An eighth win from 11 away games brought up Napoli's half-century of points, keeping them three ahead of closest rivals Inter Milan, who still have a game in hand.

Of course, Conte once led Inter to the Scudetto, and the serial winner also lifted a long series of trophies while in charge of Juventus, where he spent most of his playing days as an industrious midfielder.

In Turin, his win rate across all competitions was 68% - and he became one of only six coaches ever to record 100 victories as Bianconeri boss - but he has also lost four of six matches against them since.

This time, Conte will take southern side Napoli into a bitter battle between north and south, aiming to prolong the Partenopei's longest streak of consecutive home victories over Juve in Serie A.

They have recently posted five in a row, with an aggregate scoreline of 12-4, and another would lock down top spot until February.

In fact, Juventus have lost six of their last 10 league meetings with Napoli, winning only twice during a period that has been characterised by chronic mismanagement off the pitch and sterile football on it.

Italy's draw specialists finally relieved the pressure on coach Thiago Motta by beating AC Milan last weekend, when Timothy Weah and Samuel Mbangula both scored to avenge Juve's recent loss in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-finals.

The Turin giants have proven tough to beat this season, and they are still undefeated in the Italian top flight, but Motta's men have drawn more than half of their games across all competitions.

Before seeing off Milan, they had failed to convert from winning positions in each of their previous three league matches, all of which leaves them 13 points adrift of the Serie A summit.

Normal service was resumed on Tuesday, with a dismal goalless draw away to Club Brugge in the Champions League; as a result, Juventus are outsiders to snatch a top-eight finish next week and instead look set for a place in the playoffs.

In addition to that Belgian stalemate, no team has recorded more away draws across Europe's top five leagues this term - though another in Naples would surely represent a good result.

Napoli Serie A form:

W

W

W

W

W

W

Juventus Serie A form:

D

W

D

D

D

W

Juventus form (all competitions):

D

L

D

D

W

L

Team News

Antonio Conte could again be without his defensive enforcer Alessandro Buongiorno due to injury - although the ex-Torino man is now back in training - so Juan Jesus should continue to deputise this weekend.

Otherwise, Napoli appear to have a clean bill of health, and they are set to name an unchanged side; recent signings Philip Billing and Luis Hasa will start on the bench.

Sure to feature up front, Romelu Lukaku needs one more strike to reach 200 career goals in Europe's top five Leagues. Incidentally, the Belgian striker has suffered his most Serie A losses to Juventus - seven in 13 matches to date.

Meanwhile, the visitors have a dilemma to resolve in attack, where top scorer Dusan Vlahovic has been dropped for 'technical reasons', false nine Nico Gonzalez has failed to convince, and France forward Randal Kolo Muani has just been recruited on loan.

The latter may be named on the bench, but Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao both overcame injuries to make a cameo appearance in midweek and are now contenders to start.

That just leaves long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal and Bremer on the sidelines.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Neres; Lukaku

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; McKennie, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; Gonzalez

We say: Napoli 1-0 Juventus

Such has been their resilience and will-to-win under ex-Juve man Antonio Conte, Napoli can finally end the Bianconeri's Serie A unbeaten streak.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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