The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is set to host a titanic clash this Saturday as Serie A leaders Napoli welcome unbeaten Juventus in a match that could have significant implications for the title race. With 13 points separating the two sides, Napoli will be looking to extend their impressive five-game winning streak against Juventus on home turf.
Antonio Conte’s Napoli side has been in scintillating form, demonstrating their title credentials with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Atalanta last weekend. The win, their eighth from 11 away games, propelled them to the 50-point mark, maintaining a three-point lead over their closest rivals, Inter Milan.
Conte, no stranger to success, having led both Inter and Juventus to Scudetto glory in the past, now finds himself on the opposite side of a bitter north-south rivalry. His win rate of 68% during his tenure at Juventus speaks volumes of his pedigree, but he’ll be focused on extending Napoli’s record-breaking run of home victories against his former club.
Juventus, under the guidance of Thiago Motta, have proven difficult to beat this season, remaining undefeated in Serie A. However, their campaign has been marred by an inability to convert draws into wins, with over half of their games across all competitions ending in stalemates.
A recent 2-0 victory over AC Milan provided some relief, but a subsequent goalless draw against Club Brugge in the Champions League highlighted their ongoing struggles. The Bianconeri now find themselves as outsiders to secure a top-eight finish in Europe’s premier competition.
The match is likely to be decided by Napoli’s defensive solidity, honed under Conte’s tutelage, against Juventus’ array of attacking talent. While the visitors boast quality in the final third, their inability to consistently convert chances could prove costly against a well-organized Napoli backline.
Team News
Napoli may have to do without Alessandro Buongiorno, with Juan Jesus likely to continue in defence. The hosts are expected to field an unchanged side, with recent signings Philip Billing and Luis Hasa providing options from the bench. All eyes will be on Romelu Lukaku, who needs just one more goal to reach the milestone of 200 career goals in Europe’s top five leagues.
Juventus face selection dilemmas in attack, with top scorer Dusan Vlahovic dropped for “technical reasons” and Nico Gonzalez failing to impress as a false nine. New loan signing Randal Kolo Muani could feature from the bench, while Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao are in contention to start after overcoming recent injuries.
Expected Starting XIs
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Neres; Lukaku
Juventus: Di Gregorio; McKennie, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; Gonzalez
Match Prediction
Given Napoli’s current form and home advantage, coupled with Juventus’ struggles to turn draws into wins, a narrow victory for the hosts seems the most likely outcome. Conte’s tactical acumen and Napoli’s determination could well see them edge this encounter by a single goal, potentially ending Juventus’ unbeaten run in Serie A.
Prediction: Napoli 1-0 Juventus
