Gonzalo Higuain is declared fit to start for Juventus against his former club, with Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne leading Napoli in this Scudetto showdown.
It kicks off at the Stadio San Paolo at 19.45 GMT, follow the development and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
The Partenopei are top of the table and still undefeated in Serie A this season, but welcome the team that has won the last six editions of the tournament.
Gonzalo Higuain is declared fit to start for Juventus against his former club, as Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne lead Napoli into this Scudetto showdown.
It kicks off at the Stadio San Paolo at 19.45 GMT, follow the development and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
The Partenopei are top of the table and still undefeated in Serie A this season, but welcome the team that has won the last six editions of the tournament.
Arkadiusz Milik and Faouzi Ghoulam are long-term absentees, but Mario Rui shook off an ankle problem to start, returning Elseid Hysaj to his preferred right-back role.
The rest is Maurizio Sarri’s ideal XI, with Mertens, Insigne and Jose Callejon supported by Jorginho, Allan and captain Marek Hamsik.
Juventus certainly can’t count on their usual routine, as Mario Mandzukic, Benedikt Howedes and Stephan Lichtsteiner didn’t even make the trip south due to injuries.
Higuain is therefore forced to start despite surgery to stabilize a broken bone in his hand on Monday.
The only other alternative would have been to use Paulo Dybala as a false 9, but Max Allegri mirrors Sarri’s formation with a 4-3-2-1 approach which effectively transforms into 4-3-3 when attacking.
Douglas Costa and Dybala support Pipita, who will receive a frosty reception from his former fans, with Mattia De Sciglio and Kwadwo Asamoah at full-backs.
Giorgio Chiellini returns from injury, allowing Andrea Barzagli and Alex Sandro to rest ahead of the crucial Champions League clash with Olympiacos.
Juve’s history in this match is not promising, managing only one victory in the last 13 competitive visits. It was a 3-1 result in January 2015, snapping eight defeats and four draws.
The Turin giants have not kept a clean sheet at the San Paolo since their 0-0 draw in March 1997, conceding 31 goals in their last 16 trips between Serie A, Serie B and the Coppa Italia. Meanwhile, the Bianconeri have only managed to find the net twice, scoring 25 goals.
Napoli will wear their third-choice black kit, while Juventus are all in yellow.
Tonight’s match was so anticipated in Naples that episodes of Sky show Gomorrah were broadcast early on the on-demand service so they did not clash.
Juve fans were not allowed into the Stadio San Paolo due to security concerns.
Napoli: Reine ; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik ; Callejon, Mertens, Insigne
Banc Naples : Sepe, Rafael, Maksimovic, Chiriches, Maggio, Rog, Diawara, Zielinski, Ounas, Giaccherini, Leandrinho
Juventus: Buffon ; De Sciglio, Benatia, Chiellini, Asamoah; Khedira, Pjanic, Matuidi; Dybala, Douglas Costa; Higuain
Juventus bench: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Rugani, Alex Sandro, Marchisio, Barzagli, Bentancur, Sturaro, Bernardeschi, Cuadrado
Navigation message
2023-10-01 08:40:08
#Compositions #NaplesJuventus #Football #Italia
