Race for Serie A Reignited: Juve v Napoli will make or break it
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Preview and odds ahead of the game
Juventus host Napoli in a top-of-the-table clash in Turin this weekend that will either make-or-break the race for the Scudetto.
Having been six points clear with just six games to play, Juve were held to a draw by lowly Crotone last night. Napoli were 2-1 down at home to Udinese, but screamed back to win 4-2 and throw the Scudetto race wide open again.
As fate would have it, the two sides meet at the Juventus Stadium on Saturday evening in what will be a pressure-cooker situation for both clubs.
A win for Napoli would cut the gap to just a single point and turn the heat up on Juve. The Coral News Team takes a look at the huge fixture…
What do Napoli have to do?
Prove the doubters wrong. Maurizio Sarri’s side have been accused of choking at vital moments. Not just this season, but in previous Scudetto races.
Sarri must use that rhetoric to fire up his players. Not that the Partenopei will need much motivation. Marek Hamsik and co. will be furious that they have let another league lead slip away.
But, most of all, Napoli need to keep their heads. It’ll be a white-hot atmosphere in Turin with everything on the line. And Juve will be waiting to ambush any over-emotional response.
Juventus’ vulnerabilities
If Napoli are to keep the title race alive, they have to hope that not only do they perform to their best, but the Old Lady have an off-day.
The Bianconeri have lost just one Serie A game at home since August 2015. However, that was earlier this season to Simone Inzaghi’s vibrant Lazio side.
And Napoli play a very similar style to the Roman outfit. In fact, it’s arguable Inzaghi replicated Sarri’s team in many ways.
Counter-attacking and fast transitions will be key to any Napoli victory in Turin.
Match Odds
The Coral football traders have Juve as favourites at 21/20. Napoli are 27/10 outsiders, with the draw available at 11/5.
It’s fairly rare that the Old Lady are odds-against at home in Serie A. And that’s a measure of the respect in which Napoli are held in Italy.
Sarri – like Allegri – has done a superb job at the Stadio San Paolo. The ex-Empoli coach has turned the Partenopei into one of the most exciting attacking units in European football.
Central to that has been Dries Mertens’ transformation from a winger into an out-and-out striker. The Belgium international has 20 goals and nine assists this season. He’s 2/1 to find the net Anytime.
Much like Napoli, there are goals all over Juve’s squad. But it’s Paulo Dybala (22) and Gonzalo Higuain (20) who lead the way.
The Argentine duo are both 6/4 to score at Anytime.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
