Juventus Season 2015-2016

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Higuain: ‘Napoli feet on the ground’

http://www.football-italia.net/79687/higuain-%E2%80%98napoli-feet-ground%E2%80%99?

Feb 10, 2016

Gonzalo Higuain says the clash with Juventus will be “like a derby”, but Napoli “must keep our feet on the ground”.

The Partenopei travel to Turin to take on the Bianconeri this Saturday, with the defending champions two points behind at the Serie A summit.

“I’m calm,” Higuain told Rai when asked about the game.

“I’ve been playing football for many years and I’m used to the pressure. Obviously there’s a great desire to take to the pitch though, it’s like a derby.

“We know it’s down to us, we have to remain calm and not get carried away with the euphoria, because it could hurt us.

“It’s better to keep our feet on the ground.”

Higuain has 24 goals in 24 League games so far, could be lead the Vesuviani to the Scudetto like fellow Argentine Diego Maradona?

“To even get close to what he did would be great for me. That’s what I always say.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Why Juventus vs. Napoli will be the
highlight of the 2015-16 Serie A season

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/12/blog/post/2804480/juventus-vs-napoli-could-well-decide-serie-a-title

Feb 11, 2016

It's not decisive, the protagonists insist. Juventus-Napoli is not the Super Bowl. The fate of the Scudetto doesn't depend on it. Thirteen games will remain after this weekend, with 39 points still to play for. The fixture list and the math support their argument, but who are they kidding? Games don't get much bigger than this one.

If Juventus come out on top they will lead Serie A for the first time this season. It's something captain Gigi Buffon admits was "unthinkable" after that October night in Reggio Emilia when the champions were 11 points off the pace. Should the champions get in front, one suspects they'll stay there and emulate the Juventus team of the 1930s that won the league five times in a row. They've got the experience to see it out and would draw huge confidence from a win this weekend.

Even for this group of history-makers, it would stand as arguably their greatest achievement. Last season Juventus lost Antonio Conte and almost won the treble. This season they had to bid farewell to Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, made their worst start in 103 years and might still retain the title. It's a measure of their immense character but there's another factor: the pressure really is on as Juventus arguably have the most to lose.

Lose and they'll be five points behind again but the disadvantage would actually be greater because after their 2-1 defeat at the San Paolo in September, Napoli would have the edge on head-to-head as well. Psychologically, if Juventus were to go down, it would be the most significant loss they have ever suffered at the J Stadium -- and the only one of genuine consequence in the league.

For Napoli, it would be huge. They have never won there, with the aggregate score at 11-1 in Juve's favour. Historically speaking, Napoli have only got the better of the Old Lady in Turin on seven occasions. The last time was on Halloween seven years ago and of the first team players involved, only captain Marek Hamsik -- the hero that night, scoring a brace -- still plays for the club.

Make no mistake: Napoli have been building towards this. Other than Juventus, they've put up more points than anyone in the league over the past five years. They're the only other club to have won anything in Italy during that time -- they lifted the Coppa Italia for the first time since 1987, not once but twice, denying Juventus in the final in 2012 and then in the Super Cup in Doha a year ago.

Of all the teams to have come at the king during Juve's accession to the throne and throughout their reign, this Napoli side is the most formidable challenger to their crown. They have posed a greater and more sustained threat than Roma did even in Rudi Garcia's first season, when they came out of the blocks, winning their opening 10 games and after all was said and done, establishing a club record points total that would have been enough to take the title in five of the previous six years.

What has impressed so far about Napoli is how they have kept their nerve since becoming winter champions. Juventus are on a club record 14-game winning run but even that hasn't been enough to overtake their rivals. Rather than allow it to unsettle them, Napoli have responded in kind with eight straight wins, a club record of their own. One of those streaks will end on Saturday, or perhaps both. "Above all, it's important not to lose," Buffon told Sky Italia.

Saturday's encounter is being framed as Italy's best defence going up against its best attack and the temptation is obvious.

Juventus have conceded only 15 goals this season, just once in 2016. Buffon hasn't had to pick the ball out of his net in five games. Last weekend's win at Frosinone was the fourth time this season an opponent hasn't even registered a single shot on target.

Napoli, by contrast, have scored 53 league goals -- 78 in all competitions. They've scored five on six occasions and are averaging 2.2 per game. Only Barcelona's MSN is out-scoring Gonzalo Higuain, Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon in Europe's top five leagues. Statistically, not even Napoli's famous "Ma-Gi-Ca" trident of Maradona, Bruno Giordano and Andrea Carnevale come close.

Higuain has scored 24 goals in 24 games and is on course to break Gunnar Nordahl's 66-year record for the most prolific season since Serie A went to 20 teams. Insigne was the first player in Europe's top five leagues this year to get into double figures for both goals and assists. Callejon didn't find the net in the league until mid-December but has now had nine in his last eight appearances.

As if that wasn't enough cause for anxiety among Juventus fans, there's the injury absence of Giorgio Chiellini. Utility man Martin Caceres is out for the season after snapping his Achilles tendon and Daniele Rugani -- although regarded as the best young centre-back in Italy by his ex-mentor, Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri -- is short of match rhythm this season. A change to a back four looks on the cards, which seems a risk as their resurgence has coincided with a return to the 3-5-2 they played under Antonio Conte.

To be fair to Allegri, though, he rarely gets his tactics wrong in big games like these. Yet Chiellini's injury must be of no small encouragement to Sarri's side. Napoli's attack has evidently gone to another level this season but it has been the team's strength for years. In the past five seasons, they have outscored Juventus 339 to 336. Where they have come up short is in their tactics and personnel in midfield and defence. But not anymore.

The individual match-ups are fascinating. Paul Pogba announced himself to Serie A with a wonder goal against Napoli and has scored three against them. Hamsik is now the Frank Lampard-esque midfielder he always promised to become. Claudio Marchisio is the one player Juventus absolutely cannot do without. He balances the team. Jorginho is the tempo-setting controller Napoli lacked. World Cup winner Sami Khedira is out (another crucial absentee) but Stefano Sturaro brings an intensity reminiscent of Gennaro Gattuso. Allan is Napoli's midfield terrier and provides them with bite where once they were toothless -- a past role as a No.10 means he is pretty handy in the final third, too, and his late runs in the box are a threat.

Where Napoli have improved most is at the back. They conceded 93 goals to Juventus' 47 in the Rafa Benitez years -- too many to ever be competitive. This season they have already recorded more clean sheets (11) than in all of last season (9) and have allowed only four more goals than Juventus. Pepe Reina has not only added leadership, he has given the defenders in front of him peace of mind. One of them, Kalidou Koulibaly, is the most improved player in Serie A this season. His performances have drawn comparisons with Lilian Thuram and such connections don't sound ludicrous at all.

How Napoli deal with the trickery of Paulo Dybala will be fascinating. He is the only player challenging Higuain for the league's MVP award. Twenty of Juventus' goals have carried his signature, with 13 directly from his boots and seven from teammates assisted by his genius.

It's all so even. Too close to call. Napoli appear healthier. Sarri isn't missing any of his first team regulars while Juventus are without Chiellini, Khedira and Mario Mandzukic. Both teams have shown signs of tiredness of late from pushing each other to the absolute limit. But come Saturday night, the adrenaline will kick in; the sense of occasion and an awareness of what's at stake will too.

Mark it: Juventus vs. Napoli promises to be one of the great games of 2016.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Evaluating Juventus' Options for
Covering for the Injured Giorgio Chiellini

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2615694-evaluating-juventus-options-for-covering-for-the-injured-giorgio-chiellini?

Feb 11, 2016

As their season enters a critical juncture, Juventus have an unwelcome problem to deal with. The club has confirmed that Giorgio Chiellini, their world-class center back and vice-captain, will miss the next 20 days with a leg injury.

That span will cover both Saturday's top-of-the-table showdown with Napoli and the first leg of Juve's marquee Champions League round-of-16 tie with Bayern Munich. It will also potentially see him miss the Derby d'Italia clashes with Internazionale—one in the league and one in the Coppa Italia—at the end of February and beginning of March.

The injury has caused a selection problem for coach Massimiliano Allegri, who was already shorthanded at center back after Martin Caceres suffered a season-ending tear to his Achilles tendon against Genoa on Feb. 3. Now short of coverage at the back, Allergi really has only two choices to cover for his star defender as his team's season enters its most important stretch.

The first is to send in 21-year-old Daniele Rugani as a straight swap for Chiellini in a three-man back line.

Allegri has used the 3-5-2 almost exclusively since the beginning of the team's remarkable string of 14 straight league victories—a run that stretches to 18 wins in 20 in all competitions since Halloween. It has provided the team with a defensive stability somewhat lacking at the beginning of the season, when they let in too many soft goals.

Since their streak started, they've recorded 13 clean sheets in 20 games in all competitions—including their last seven straight games.

Chiellini was a major contributor to that 656-minute long string of unblemished soccer. If Allegri stays with the 3-5-2, then Rugani is the obvious replacement. He would likely slot in to the right side of the back line. That's where he has been deployed for all of his game action this season. Andrea Barzagli would likely move over to cover the left, as he did in the several games in which Chiellini had been rested in favor of Caceres prior to Sunday's match against Frosinone.

This is the kind of situation Rugani was brought to Juventus for. Though young, he is not callow—he played every minute in Serie A last season with Empoli and did so without being booked. He has also been a mainstay in Italy's U21 setup for several years and started all three of their games at last summer's European Under-21 Championship.

Even so, he's never faced matches of this magnitude. Saturday's game against Napoli could well decide the fate of the Scudetto, and the Bayern game is going to be something greater than anything he's ever seen before.

This is not to say Rugani can't handle it. He's one of the best young defensive talents in the world and has shown great poise both on the field and off it as he has awaited his chance to get consistent playing time. It's not hard to see him taking his opportunity and excelling.

But Allegri does have another option to consider: switching out of the 3-5-2 and back to a four-man defensive line.

Such a change would almost certainly involve a line of, from left to right, Alex Sandro, Leonardo Bonucci, Barzagli and Stephan Lichtsteiner. It would send Rugani to the bench and likely anger fans about his continued lack of playing time, but it also has several merits.

The first and most obvious comes in tactical flexibility. If Allegri were to send all three of his healthy center backs onto the field as a back three, it would give him little to no wiggle room if something drastic—think an injury or a red card—were to happen. Keeping one of them on the bench would allow him some play should he need to shuffle his back line on the fly during the game.

Deploying four in the back would also allow Allegri to revert to his favored 4-3-1-2 formation. That system is what he rode to the Champions League final a year ago and was what he intended to be his default as the season began.

As well as the 3-5-2 has worked during this winning streak, it is fairly clear after almost two years in charge of Juve that Allegri doesn't get its subtleties as well as his predecessor, Antonio Conte. When he has used it, there have been occasions when Juve's attack has bogged down and become muddled in the midfield. By contrast, when he has used a 4-3-1-2, the team has tended to be much more dynamic.

This could be chalked up to the fact he had four absolute world-class midfielders running it last year—Arturo Vidal in the hole with Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba behind him. Vidal and Pirlo are gone, but Allegri has the pieces at his disposal to replicate his success with the formation.

Sunday's return of Roberto Pereyra—who had been out since October with a hamstring injury—was the biggest piece to fall into place. The Argentina international has played well when put into the trequartista role, and an attacking trio of him, Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata could be tough to match for any defense.

From a more game-focused perspective, the two big matches Juve have during Chiellini's period on the sidelines may end up lending themselves to having a trequartista on the field.

Napoli's defense, while much improved from last season, isn't on an elite level quite yet, and in their most difficult games they have tended to be vulnerable to attacks that come up the middle of the field.

Sampdoria engineered two of the four goals they scored against the Partenopei this season on attacks that originated centrally. Sassuolo did similarly in scoring two goals in their season-opening upset of Maurizio Sarri's men.

As for Bayern, they are going to be coming to Turin shorthanded. With center-backs Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez both set to miss the game with injuries, this will be an opportune time to attack Bayern's back line through the middle. Earlier in the season they were prone to the occasional shock, with Arsenal and Borussia Monchengladbach both pulling upsets before the new year.


How Should Massimiliano Allegri cover for Giorgio Chiellini's absence?

Use Daniele Rugani in 3-5-2 (38.9%)

Switch to 4-3-1-2 (61.1%)

Total votes: 321


There isn't a truly bad choice here. On the one hand, Allegri can plug in one of the best young defenders in the world and let him play. On the other, he can play a system he is better versed in—one that can give him flexibility and that he can potentially use to exploit weaknesses in two big teams.

In the end, the better choice may be to shift to a 4-3-1-2 for the in-game flexibility if nothing else. The team could always revert to a 3-5-2 mid-game if the situation suits. Indeed, Juve are one of the only teams in the world that could call pulling a midfielder for a center-half sound tactical play instead of a desperation move.

But if the 3-5-2 comes out at the start, there aren't as many places for Allegri to go as the game progresses—especially if something happens to one of his center-backs. In the end, counterintuitive as it may sound given the run his team has been on with it, ditching the 3-5-2 for a four-man back line may indeed be his best solution to fill the hole Chiellni's absence leaves.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Cannavaro: ‘Juve-Napoli draw’

http://www.football-italia.net/79694/cannavaro-%E2%80%98juve-napoli-draw%E2%80%99?

Feb 11, 2016

Fabio Cannavaro thinks Juve-Napoli will ‘end as a draw’ but warns Napoli that ‘to win the Scudetto you need a result in Turin.’

The top two in Serie A meet at Juventus Stadium on Saturday evening in a highly-anticipated Scudetto showdown.

Cannavaro, who played for both sides during his career, talked through the key players of the clash in an interview with giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

“The defences have great quality and also they’ll line up with top goalkeepers in terms of personality,” he said.

“Because of this I think that it could end as a draw.

“The set pieces will be decisive. The direct free-kicks of Dybala and Insigne are deadly and then there’s Pogba as well.

“Napoli pay attention to throw-ins too. In this way, Juve will lose height and physical strength without Chiellini.

“Cuadrado can change the game in an instant. He’s faster than anyone and is in great form. He could be decisive on the counter attack.

“Dybala knows how to dance down the line like few others and he knows how to do damage.

“Napoli will make a further leap in quality if they have the mental attitude to play the match on a par when they enter the pitch.

“To win the Scudetto you need to get a result in Turin. I’ll support Napoli: It’s my city, my heart is there.

“Buffon never speaks at random. At Juve they respect Napoli, they were amazed by how badly it went in recent years with Benitez because their potential is strong, as the great work of Sarri is showing.

“Buffon knows that it’s important to stay two points from Napoli, there are three months packed with commitments ahead.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Rizzoli out of Juve-Napoli

http://www.football-italia.net/79696/rizzoli-out-juve-napoli?

Feb 11, 2016

Reports say referee Nicola Rizzoli has been injured and Daniele Orsato is in pole to replace him for Juventus-Napoli.

The 2014 World Cup final ref had been given the responsibility of taking charge of the Scudetto shwodown on Saturday, but reports emerged this morning that he has suffered a knock.

Premium Sport reports that Rizzoli will be out for two weeks with a calf injury and Orsato is the favourite to replace him.

Orsato is also an international referee for UEFA and FIFA tournaments and has taken charge of some of Serie A’s biggest clashes such as the Milan and Rome derbies.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Official: Orsato for Juve-Napoli

http://www.football-italia.net/79701/official-orsato-juve-napoli?

Feb 11, 2016

Daniele Orsato has officially been named as the referee for Juventus-Napoli after Nicola Rizzoli was injured.

Premium Sport reported this morning that 2014 World Cup final ref Rizzoli had picked up a calf injury after being favourite to take charge of Saturday’s Scudetto clash.

The AIA (Italian referee’s association) has now announced that Orsato will take charge of the Juventus Stadium encounter.

The other big clash of the round between Fiorentina and Inter will be refereed by Paolo Mazzoleni.


Referees for Week 25

Carpi-Roma: Tagliavento

Chievo-Sassuolo: Ghersini

Empoli-Frosinone: Di Bello

Fiorentina-Inter: Mazzoleni

Juventus-Napoli: Orsato

Milan-Genoa: Calvarese

Palermo-Torino: Cervellera

Sampdoria-Atalanta: Damato

Udinese-Bologna: Russo

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Know your enemy: Talking
Juventus-Napoli with The Siren's Song

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/2/11/10965006/rival-question-and-answer-juventus-napoli-serie-a-round-25

Feb 11, 2016

Time is quickly winding down for Saturday's Serie A showcase at Juventus Stadium. All of two days remain before the clear-cut top two teams in Italy square off against one another in a game people have been hyping up and anticipating for days on end now. We all know the circumstances and what's at stake. If anything, we've been thinking about that stuff for even longer than those in the Italian press.

Both teams will walk into Juventus Stadium on the back of lengthy winning streaks. One team has a longer one, but we won't rub that in the face of the current league leaders right now. (Although, 14 straight wins is pretty damn good.) Both teams will are playing some damn good football these days, and they're both pulling away from the rest of the pack in the top third of the table because of it.

But what has allowed Napoli to not only get off to such a strong start this season, but also maintain it? That's what we're here to try and find out about. We've enlisted the help of Conor, the resident Napoli expert here at SB Nation who just so happens to write about Juve's opposition on Saturday night on a pretty regular basis over at The Siren's Song.

So, without further adieu, we had some questions for the exalted ruler of both the network's Napoli blog and all of SBN Italia as a whole, and he had some answers for us all.


BWRAO: Let's get right to the point. Is Gonzalo Higuaín human? Or, in an easier way of phrasing it, just how dominant of a striker he's been this season?

TSS: I think he's been replaced with a T-1000. It's the only real way to explain it.

Seriously, though, there's a couple of reasons. He got healthier over the summer, changing his diet so he could have more energy and drop some weight. Between that and the tactical adjustments made by Maurizio Sarri, both in terms of team shape and approach, and Higuain has been a huge beneficiary of that.

More than anything else, though, he's been more consistent this season. In previous years, Higuain has tended to go on white-hot runs of form, then spend upwards of two months not doing much at all. This season, he's been consistently involved and consistently effective, and it's been a joy to behold.


BWRAO: Since Juventus and Napoli last saw one another, neither team has had many slip ups. From the Napoli point of view, what has enabled them to pick up point so consistently?

TSS: They play as a unit, not just with each other but for each other. They spent the last two seasons playing in a bunch of individual roles in a system that demanded many of Napoli's players to do things they weren't comfortable with or were well-suited for, and teamwork was almost a secondary concern. This season, Sarri has set them up in a way that plays to their strengths and imbued a sense of togetherness that Napoli had sorely lacked. These players play for each other, fight for each other, and win for each other. That is why they've been so consistent, because when one man falters, another steps up to cover him and lift him back up.


BWRAO: What's an area of Napoli's squad that might not be getting as much recognition as it deserves due to Higuaín's insane season?

TSS: Just how f**king good their midfield has been. The trio of Marek Hamsik, Jorginho, and Allan have controlled almost every match the trio has played together, keeping possession with ease and flying all over the pitch to break up the opponents' play and help spring Napoli's fierce, quick-developing attacks.Their balance and ability to work fluidly together is top-notch, and they can adjust to almost any threat. Watching them do their thing this season has been all kinds of fun, and hopefully they're just going to keep getting better and better.


BWRAO: Lorenzo Insigne is already in double digits when it comes to goals and assists. Is this the player Napoli fans thought he would be when he first burst onto the scene a few years ago?

TSS: I think he's more than that player. Back then, fans saw a miniature Ezequiel Lavezzi, who at the time was a very good player but not nearly as complete and well-rounded as Insigne is today. His ability to disrupt defenses and score goals has never really been in doubt — a couple rough runs of form aside — but his playmaking skill has taken massive strides over the last couple of years, with improvements coming by leaps and bounds this season. He's becoming a special player right in front of our eyes, and this payoff of the years of love and trust the fans have given Insigne is simply wonderful.


BWRAO: Does this game being played at Juventus Stadium and not the San Paolo worry you much?

TSS: Nah. Has to be played somewhere, and Napoli already whooped Juventus at the San Paolo, so that means it has to be played outside of Naples for the sake of fairness.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Lippi: ‘No Juventus-Napoli favourite”

http://www.football-italia.net/79708/lippi-%E2%80%98no-juventus-napoli-favourite%E2%80%9D?

Feb 11, 2016

Marcello Lippi “can’t see a favourite” between Juventus and Napoli, but the Scudetto “will probably be a two-horse race”.

The two sides occupy first and second place in Serie A, and meet in Turin on Saturday with the Partenopei two points clear.

“Juventus-Napoli will be a fantastic match, but I don’t think it’ll be decisive,” Lippi, who Coached both teams, told UEFA’s official website.

“There are still 39 points to play for, so the battle between the two sides will still be open. Both are having a fantastic season, the Neapolitans come into this on the back of eight straight wins, while the Bianconeri have 14.

“I must admit, I can’t see a favourite between Juventus and Napoli. That said, the Juventus squad is deeper and overall better than Napoli’s.

“As for the Scudetto, there are a lot of teams chasing, but it’ll probably be a two-horse between [Maurizio] Sarri and [Max] Allegri’s teams.

“Who will make the difference? Napoli have a player who has scored 24 goals in 24 games, Gonzalo Higuain. It’s easy to see him making the difference for Sarri’s team.

“On the other side I’d say Paulo Dybala, who is growing and is having a very positive season.”

The former Italy CT then gave his views of the respective tacticians.

“Sarri? He’s a great Coach, he’s done an extraordinary job in just a few months. He’s reshaped Napoli in every area, starting from the defence.

“Last year they conceded too many goals, and in a short period of time they’ve become one of the best in the League in that area.

“He’s also managed to establish a great relationship with his players, which is a crucial aspect in any dressing room.

“As for Allegri, Juve changed several important players from last season. Early on they weren’t getting results, and people were concerned.

“Allegri was amazing though, he did a great job. Juventus are now a very strong team, with consistency in terms of performances and results.

“The squad is comprehensive and has quality. This team will continue to do great things.”

Both sides are still involved in European competition, and the Champions League-winner discussed their prospects.

“Both Juventus and Napoli have done well so far, in the Champions League and Europa League respectively,” Lippi explained.

“Against Bayern Munich, Juventus will have to be very good and solid, and face this match with the mindset which sets them apart. That’s the only way they can hope to go through.

“Sarri’s lads always won in the group stages, I think they have a good chance of lifting the trophy.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Juventus v Napoli Betting Preview:
Back Allegri's men to claim a crucial victory

With both teams in sensational form, Al Hain-Cole is backing the Bianconeri's
superior Scudetto experience to see them to victory in a heavyweight Serie A clash.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/2994/betting/2016/02/11/20222862/-?

Feb 11, 2016

Juventus will be hoping to move to the top of Serie A for the first time this season when they welcome leaders Napoli to Turin in Saturday’s high-profile clash.

After a poor start to the campaign, the champions have gained ground on top spot thanks to 14 consecutive league victories and are favourites with William Hill to maintain their winning streak with their most significant result yet.

Two points clear of their opponents and with eight successive victories to their name, the Partenopei are available at to extend the gap by coming out on top here.

Just one of the previous eight league meetings between the sides has resulted in a draw, but you can get odds of on them cancelling each other out on this occasion.

It is remarkable how much these teams have progressed since their last league meeting back in September, when a 2-1 victory for Maurizio Sarri’s men took them to tenth in the standings and left the Bianconeri a further four points behind, just two clear of the relegation zone.

While that morale-boosting success propelled the Neapolitans on to win 10 and lose just one of their next 15 games as they shot up the table, it also served as a wake-up call for their northern opponents, who have lost just once since.

Now back within touching distance of their familiar position in first place, the team win four consecutive league titles to their name will feel confident of exacting revenge in this Scudetto showdown. despite the absence of Giorgio Chiellini.

So impressive is their current form that Massimiliano Allegri’s outfit make even opponents on an eight-game league winning streak appear vulnerable, with a recent Coppa Italia defeat by Inter suggesting high-flying Napoli can be frustrated.

Having conceded just once in the previous nine games and kept seven consecutive clean sheets, Juventus are more than capable of doing just that, and those odds appear fair on their superior title-winning experience helping them to a fifth home league win in a row against this opposition.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Pogba: ‘Never doubted Juventus’

http://www.football-italia.net/79712/pogba-%E2%80%98never-doubted-juventus%E2%80%99?

Feb 11, 2016

Paul Pogba “never doubted” Juventus would have a great season, and Napoli is a game “like any other”.

The Bianconeri started the Serie A season poorly, but have put together a 14-match winning-run, and face table-toppers Napoli at Juventus Stadium this Saturday.

“We have to face the game like any other,” Pogba told Sky.

“We’re not top and that’s a bit of a slap in the face for us, because we’re not used to it. But the most important thing is to win the Scudetto at the end, and to do that you have to play until the end.

“We’re not top now, but we’re not losing our heads, we want to be top at the end of the season because that’s what matters.

“I never doubted we’d have a great season.”

Pogba was one of those criticised for his form at the start of the season, but he’s come into form during the lengthy winning run.

“I’m increasingly at the centre of the project, but I have to grow. In my heart I’m a kid, on the pitch I feel like a reference point.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

NYC Mayor backs Napoli

http://www.football-italia.net/79715/nyc-mayor-backs-napoli?

Feb 11, 2016

Napoli have an unexpected supporter in Saturday’s Scudetto showdown with Juventus – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio!

The 109th Mayor of NYC is proud of his Italian roots and took to Twitter in order to urge his fellow citizens of the Big Apple to cheer on Maurizio Sarri’s men.

“Soccer fans, watch for Napoli to emerge as the undisputed greatest team in Italy this Saturday. #ForzaNapoliSempre #JuveNapoli

“Without Andrea Pirlo, the Bianconeri are toothless vs Napoli. Juventus’ loss is NYCFC’s gain!”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Altafini tips Juve against Napoli

http://www.football-italia.net/79717/altafini-tips-juve-against-napoli?

Feb 11, 2016

Legend Jose Altafini believes “Juventus are the favourites against Napoli, but I expect a game with many goals.”

The top two go head-to-head in Turin on Saturday at 20.45 CET - 19.45 GMT.

“I expect a game with many goals, so I don’t think it’ll be a dour 0-0, especially as at this moment both teams are playing great football with top champions in the spotlight,” Altafini told Tuttomercatoweb.

“I am very curious to see how Napoli will play, whether they’ll come to the Juventus Stadium targeting a win or a draw.”

The Italian-Brazilian played for both Napoli and Juventus in his career, moving from the Partenopei to Turin in 1972.

“If I have to say who the favourites are, I’ll vote for Juventus, because despite the absences I feel the home advantage will count for a lot.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Juventus - Napoli MATCH PREVIEW

http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/preview/70066

Feb 11, 2016

Something has got to give in this hotly anticipated clash between Serie A’s top two teams on Saturday when Juventus host leaders Napoli.

Both teams are on incredible winning streaks going into the game with neither in any mood to concede ground in this fascinating battle for the Scudetto.

After suffering a poor start to the season the Bianconeri have notched up an incredible 14 consecutive wins in their record breaking rise up the table but Max Allegri now has a considerable amount of injuries to contend with.

Mario Mandzukic, Martin Caceres, Giorgio Chiellini and Kwadwo Asamoah have been all ruled out, and whilst Sami Khedira remains a doubt, the reigning champions still have plenty of options at their disposal and Massimiliano Allegri will hope to make the right decisions in order to overcome their closest rivals.

His Captain Gianluigi Buffon believing other factors also weigh in their favour. “We have to make our experience count on Saturday night and use it to negate Napoli’s intensity and enthusiasm,” he told Sky Sport Italia earlier this week. After a long spell out of the limelight, they are back at the top of the table and they fully deserve it. Should Napoli win at the weekend, they will open up a sizeable lead over us with just thirteen games to play while for us it will cap off our magical run in style and give us a huge boost for the rest of the campaign.”

Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri – who will reportedly sit down after the match to discuss an extension to his contract – has a full strength side to select from, including the deadly front pairing of Lorenzo Insigne and Gonzalo Higuain who have a staggering 34 goals and 12 assists between them this season.

The Coach spent most of his career in the Tuscan lower leagues, but has bettered expectations after he was appointed to replace Rafa Benitez at the beginning of the season. “We'll visit the [Juventus] Stadium with a view to playing our own football and showing the pride of our people,” Sarri assured, showing no fear when he spoke about the fixture after last weekend’s win over Carpi. “We'll prepare the game the way that we always do. We'll isolate ourselves from everything that surrounds us, even though our supporters are a great deal of help.”

Whatever the result of this match, there is certainly a long way to go in the title race. But with just two points separating the sides, a win for either could prove to be a key psychological advantage going into the final thirteen rounds of the season. Fans of Serie A will be watching and waiting to see if the game lives up to its billing.


Keep an eye on: Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli) — The Argentine striker has scored 24 goals in 24 consecutive matches this season, and his blistering form has seen him become the first player to score in six consecutive matches in Serie A this season.


Form Guide: Juventus (W W W W W) Napoli (W W W W W)

Last season: Juventus 3-1 Napoli

Stat fact: Both teams are currently on a winning run which improves on their all-time club records. The Partenopei currently have eight victories, beating their previous mark of seven set in 1987/88, whist the Old Lady have have notched up 14, two more than their old benchmark of 12 from 2013/14 under current Azzurri boss Antonio Conte.


Juventus (probable):

Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli; Cuadrado, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Morata, Dybala

Suspended: none


Napoli (probable):

Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Higuain, Insigne

Suspended: none

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Sarri 'prepared to win' at Juve

http://www.football-italia.net/79719/sarri-prepared-win-juve?

Feb 11, 2016

Maurizio Sarri’s agent assured the Napoli boss will “prepare to win” against Juventus in Turin’s Scudetto battle.

The top two go head-to-head on Saturday at 20.45 CET - 19.45.

“We have to calm down the tension around this game, as Napoli have to think about their own strength and nothing else,” representative Alessandro Pellegrini told Radio Crc.

“The city is experiencing the build-up to the big match in a relaxed way, as it needs the right approach.”

As Napoli are two points in front going in, will they target victory or be happy with a draw?

“Sarri prepares to win every match, but we cannot know what will happen on the field. The scenarios could change based on the final result.”

There was another twist in this showdown, as referee Nicola Rizzoli picked up an injury and so Daniele Orsato was assigned to officiate.

“I think Orsato is the right referee for this match, but I’d prefer to let everyone do their talking on the pitch.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Rizzoli sues over Juve 'bias'

http://www.football-italia.net/79720/rizzoli-sues-over-juve-bias?

Feb 11, 2016

The Referees’ Association and Nicola Rizzoli will sue a media chief who said he’d "certainly" favour Juventus against Napoli.

Rizzoli had originally been assigned to Saturday’s big game, but pulled out with a muscular injury and it will be officiated by Daniele Orsato instead.

Earlier this week, TGcom director Paolo Liguori was a guest on Italia 1 show Tiki Taka when he made the comments.

“Is Rizzoli the best referee? Yes, but not at the Juventus Stadium for this game. I have no proof, but I do have an important sequence of statistics that suggest when he does make a mistake, those few times, he does them in one direction.

“There’s no point beating about the bush, as it’s with this attitude that Calciopoli exploded and people still ask why nobody said anything at the time.”

Liguori then went on Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli to make similar controversial statements.

“It’s certain, mathematically predictable, that there will be a refereeing error in Turin in favour of Juventus. You can say I’m a crazy visionary if you like. We have few certainties in life and this is one of them.

“Remember what happened in the head-to-head between Inter and Juve with Iuliano’s foul on Ronaldo? We cannot avoid making certain comments today.

“If they want to prove me wrong, then assign Orsato, but if they assign Rizzoli then it’s a certainty there will be errors. The Bianconeri are strong, listen to me.”

Now the Italian Referees’ Association (AIA) and Rizzoli have been given the all-clear to sue Liguori for defamation.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Insigne 'fired up' for Juventus

http://www.football-italia.net/79727/insigne-fired-juventus?

Feb 11, 2016

Lorenzo Insigne “is very fired up and wants to be a protagonist” in Juventus v Napoli, said his agent.

The top two go head-to-head on Saturday at 20.45 CET - 19.45 GMT.

“I visited Lorenzo today and I can tell you his motivation is through the roof,” Fabio Andreotti told Radio Marte.

“This is the game of the year. If Napoli manage to get full points, they can really win the Scudetto.

“Insigne is certainly very fired up and is not thinking about a goal, he just wants the team to succeed at the Juventus Stadium.

“He wants to be a protagonist, as do all his teammates.”

Despite his stunning form for Napoli, Insigne can’t seem to break into Antonio Conte’s Italy squad.

“Lorenzo’s performances are consistent and I think there’s a very good chance of seeing him at Euro 2016.

“In my view Conte is a serious professional and never put Insigne’s quality up for debate. I don’t think he has anything against Insigne, as someone like Lorenzo can be very useful for Italy.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Dybala: 'Higuain can have one title'

http://www.football-italia.net/79729/dybala-higuain-can-have-one-title?

Feb 11, 2016

Paulo Dybala would give friend Gonzalo Higuain the Capocannoniere crown as long as Juventus beat Napoli to the title.

The Argentine spoke to TG1 ahead of Saturday’s Scudetto showdown.

“Higuain is a friend, I met him playing at international level with Argentina, but he is also a rival and a champion I want to beat in terms of titles and goals scored,” said the Juve talent.

“Would I agree to let Higuain be Capocannoniere and Juventus win the Scudetto? I’d sign for that, whenever you like!”

Dybala has quickly become the heir to Carlos Tevez in Turin.

“When I was at Palermo, he spoke to me about Juventus and I would’ve been happy to play alongside him, because having a champion like that by your side makes everything easier.

“Max Allegri helped me a great deal at the beginning, as I needed a little time to settle in. It wasn’t easy to go from Palermo to Juventus.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Pogba Finds It Hard To See His Side Below Napoli

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/02/juventus-star-finds-it-hard-to-see-his-side-below-napoli/?

Feb 11, 2016

Juventus star Paul Pogba confessed he has a hard time accepting the idea that Napoli are top of Serie A, as the Bianconeri get the chance to leapfrog the Partenopei in the Saturday night’s face-to-face at Juventus Stadium.

Following the troubled start to the season, a 14-game winning run brought the Turin outfit back in the Scudetto business, just two points behind the Azzurri. The 22-year-old midfielder has had a primary role in the Old Lady’s renaissance, scoring four of his five current campaign’s goals since their golden months started.

“I never doubted that we would have a great season,” the Frenchman told Sky Sport Italia.

“Napoli are first and are playing amazingly, this is a heavy blow to us.

“We must approach this game as all the others. We’re not used to see other teams upon us, but the final placement is what really counts and we want to win the Scudetto.

“I feel I’m a reference point on the pitch, but I still have to improve.”

Juventus have already lost once to Napoli this season, when Lorenzo Insigne and Gonzalo Higuain sealed a 2-1 victory at Stadio San Paolo back in September.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Napoli prepare set plays

http://www.football-italia.net/79731/napoli-prepare-set-plays?

Feb 11, 2016

Reports from Napoli’s training session claim they have been focusing on set-play situations ahead of Juventus.

According to Radio Kiss Kiss, Coach Maurizio Sarri has locked down the Castelvolturno training ground to avoid distractions.

There was still time for fun, as two large birthday cakes were brought in for Jose Callejon and Christian Maggio.

It’s claimed most of the focus of their training session today was on dead ball scenarios, something Sarri had already specialised in while at Empoli.

Juve will probably be weaker in the air after an injury ruled out Giorgio Chiellini.

Lorenzo Insigne is said to be in sparkling form and, with Capocannoniere Gonzalo Higuain, scored some stunning goals in the game between ranks.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Juventus V Napoli – Preview:
Title To Play For In Turin

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/02/juventus-v-napoli-preview-title-to-play-for-in-turin/?

Feb 12, 2016

It’s the game that could decide the Scudetto race as Juventus and Napoli face one another on Saturday night in the Juventus Stadium in Serie A.

Both teams seem absolutely unstoppable at the moment, as the Bianconeri have won 14 Serie A games in a row – rising to an even better 17 including the Coppa Italia – and the Partenopei have won eight on the trot. This has created some space behind the two top clubs, leaving them as the two most-serious Scudetto candidates.

Juventus have just beaten Chievo 2-0 thanks to goals by Juan Cuadrado and Paulo Dybala, and in their 14 wins they have ammassed 34 goals, conceding only six in total, without conceding in the last five and keeping nine clean sheets in this time.

Napoli come in from their 1-0 home win over Carpi courtesy of a Gonzalo Higuain penalty, his 24th goal in as many games, having scored in the last six. In their winning streak, Maurizio Sarri’s men have put together a total of 25 goals, but also lost to Inter in the Coppa Italia.

Last time the two teams met at the Juventus Stadium back in May, the Bianconeri won 3-1, whilst earlier this season it was Napoli who took all three points at the Stadio San Paolo, thanks to goals by the usual Lorenzo Insigne and Higuain.

Arguably the best attacking duo of the Serie A will be leading the line for Napoli also at the Stadium, with Maurizio Sarri lucky enough to have his best starting XI all available.

This is not the case for Massimiliano Allegri, who will be forced to change something in his midfield and in the back line. Sami Khedira and Giorgio Chiellini won’t be available, as well as the long lasting injuries of Mario Mandzukic, Martin Caceres and Kwadwo Asamaoh.

This means he could move away from his usual 3-5-2 formation to a new 4-4-2 system, with in-form Cuadrado on the right and Paul Pogba shifted to the left. Starlet Paulo Dybala leads the attack alongside Alvaro Morata, for what will be the most crucial game of this Serie A season.

Form Guide: Juventus (W-W-W-W-W) Napoli (W-W-W-W-W)


Expected Starting XIs

Juventus (4-4-2)
Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Cuadrado, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba; Morata, Dybala.
 

Napoli (4-3-3)
Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Higuain, Insigne.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Juventus, Napoli prepare for Serie A's
biggest match of the season

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/12/blog/post/2805421/juventus-napoli-prepare-for-serie-a-biggest-match

Feb 12, 2016

You know Juventus versus Napoli is Serie A's biggest game of the season when even New York City's Mayor, Bill de Blasio, is tweeting about it. Broadcast in 200 countries around the world, the duel between Italy's two finest teams this season has enchanted millions with even Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish newspaper, likening the fixture to the spectacle that is El Clasico.

A mouthwatering clash, THE tie of the season, Saturday night will tell us whether Napoli really have what it takes to win the title or if Juventus are the eternal league champions.

So what can we expect when Serie A's best defence welcome the league's strongest attack?

Permit me a cliche but it's often said that offence wins games but defence wins championships, that often holds true in Serie A and not only there. The Denver Broncos' sensational defence was enough to defeat the mighty Carolina Panthers -- the favourites to lift the trophy -- and win the Super Bowl. The side that concedes the fewest goals in Italy often wins the Scudetto, can Napoli prove otherwise?

Under Maurizio Sarri, the Partenopei have used the foundations laid by ex-coach Rafa Benitez and built upon them to create an effective unit that works beautifully together. While the former Empoli coach had hopes of deploying the brilliance of a trequartista, he soon realised that the 4-3-3 formation perfectly extolled the virtues of some of the individuals in his team.

This is now a Napoli side that work in a compact manner, essentially a short team where the distance between the defence and forward line is rarely more than 30 metres. This has been done in an effort to rescue the side from the frailties that exist in defence.

Under Benitez, the Azzurri may have scored the goals but they also conceded too many to mount a serious challenge for the title. By keeping a compact shape, it not only becomes easier to win back possession and rotate the ball with greater ease but it offers security to a centre-back partnership that lacks pace and can easily be overwhelmed.

With Allan's perfect interpretation of his dual role, Jorginho providing the short passes that keep the team moving and Marek Hamsik affording the team the vertical edge that unleashes the forwards, Napoli simply cannot stop scoring. Gonzalo Higuain is in excellent form, benefiting from his remarkable understanding with both Lorenzo Insigne, the player now afforded more freedom to roam and drop deep as well as Jose Callejon -- the master of sacrificing himself for the good of the team.

A team that has maintained the high pressure, high intensity game played under Benitez, Sarri has simply enhanced the tactics, allowing for more ball possession and rotation to create more opportunities and subsequently defensive protection.

Yet for all of the Partenopei's offensive brilliance, they rarely keep a clean sheet and it remains to be seen how they will pierce through a Bianconeri defence that has conceded only four goals since the end of November. In their last 11 league games, Juventus have kept eight clean sheets and scored 28, an average of 2.5 goals a game.

Allegri's Juve have not only managed a club record 14 Serie A wins in a row but they are team with no weaknesses, perfectly combining attacking wizardly with sensational defence. Boasting tactical intelligence and a squad brimming with varied talent, this is far from a predictable side that exploits the same avenues. This is a Bianconeri team that attack in the wide areas, split sides through the middle and make the most of set pieces, comprehensively defeating organised opponents.

In addition to perfect tactical balance, the Old Lady is now accustomed to winning. Interviewed by Sport Mediaset last year, Sarri asked a question of his own" "Do you really want to know the difference between Juventus and the others?"

"When Empoli were playing the big teams, we tip-toed out onto the field; Juventus, however, would be screaming and shouting in the dressing room as if they were about to face Bayern Munich.

"This is the mentality that Napoli are still lacking."

Perhaps not anymore. Sarri has been instrumental in changing the mentality of his players and removing external pressures to allow his men to enjoy their games and their position in the table. Few sides could keep collecting consecutive wins with a hungry Juve breathing down their necks yet Higuain and Co. continue going.

It helps to have Pepe Reina in the team. According to a recent article in Corriere del Mezzogiorno, the goalkeeper's leadership skills have not only helped motivate the team but he was also the man who suggested Sarri change formations, the player who is invited to tactical meetings when Napoli prepare for upcoming fixtures.

A clash of inspirational goalkeepers? Having experienced winners like Gianluigi Buffon in a squad teaching the young new arrivals at Juve what it means to don the Bianconeri jersey is the reason why Juventus managed to change their season around. Can he help to keep them going?

Sadly for Juve, they will be missing the warrior that is Giorgio Chiellini as well as the intelligent Sami Khedira. As such, it's likely Allegri will deploy a 4-3-3 formation that will morph into a 3-5-2 when the Bianconeri are chasing possession.

With Daniele Rugani thought to be too inexperienced for such a high profile clash against offensive titans, Allegri will ask Juan Cuadrado to line up alongside Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata in attack but also be prepared to track back and act as a defender when the ball is in Napoli's hands.

Facing their biggest challenge of their Serie A season, can Juventus make it 15 wins in a row?

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Juventus or Napoli for the title? Superstars
Dybala & Higuain face off in Scudetto showdown

Top of the table Napoli visit Turin in a Serie A showdown on Saturday evening with
the form of two Argentinian hotshots likely to decide the outcome... and the title.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2016/02/12/20262172/-?

Feb 12, 2016

Gonzalo Higuain was out presumably to drown his sorrows after Argentina's Copa America final penalty shootout defeat to Chile. He was back in Europe, and on the party island of Ibiza, arm-in-arm with national team colleague Ezequiel Lavezzi after leaving the legendary Pacha nightclub.

It was the bleary-eyed hours of the morning, with the sun rising, when holidaymakers in Ibiza are generally going to bed and not getting up. Higuain was approached in the street for a photo or an autograph but declined.

"You cannot even score penalties," the man sniped after being denied his request - provoking an aggressive, even unnecessary response from Higuain. The striker had indeed missed his spot kick in the Santiago shootout - effectively handing the title to Chile - just as he had missed a penalty at 2-2 in the final Serie A game of the season against Lazio which would have qualified Napoli to the Champions League ahead of their opponents.

It all boiled over and Higuain couldn't control himself; every second of the incident was captured humiliatingly on a smartphone camera. That he would rise to such an infantile jibe showed how much those missed chances were still playing on his mind. He was unable to ignore the taunting.

"Delete the video or I'll rip off your head," he barked. It was a pretty undignified way to end a night and, indeed, a season.

Well, if Higuain's inability to take chances was the reason for Argentina's failure to win their first Copa since 1993 then his spectacular relaunch this season under coach Maurizio Sarri has put Napoli in with their best chance of winning an Italian league title since the heydey of Naples's first true Argentinian hero - Diego Maradona.

Higuain, who moved to Campania from Real Madrid in order to emulate the great playmaker, has scored an incredible 24 goals in 24 Serie A games this season. Also leading the race for the European Golden Shoe, he looks set to become the first man to break the 30-goal barrier in the Italian top division since Luca Toni in 2005-06.

"Higuain is enjoying being the main man," the former Inter striker Diego Forlan wrote in his column for The National this week. "If you go to training as a club’s main goalscorer, in-form and knowing you are going to play matches, that gives you a lift."

Napoli travel to the Juventus Stadium this Saturday night with their Scudetto credentials on the line. Win and they go five points clear of a Juventus side who have won 14 Serie A matches in a row to go along with their four successive Serie A titles. Lose and they are leapfrogged by Italy's most in-form team, who are not prone to slipping once in front.

Napoli, naturally, have been trying to play down the significance of this tie but the mere thought of it must be making the hearts of the club's fans skip a beat. They have not played as important a league match since 1990 despite Higuain's attempts to pour cold water on it.

“Juventus is not the most important game of the year, it is just one other match in this tournament,” Higuain told reporters following last week's narrow win over Carpi.

Juventus have risen imposingly up the standings since claiming only 12 points from their first 10 matches. A transitional season looked on the cards with the departures of Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo creating holes in the side that seemingly could not be filled.

The man who took Tevez's position and Pirlo's number, however, has done more than anyone to put the Bianconeri right back in contention for the title. Paulo Dybala, the Argentinian signed for €32m from Palermo last summer, is second only to Higuain in the goalscoring standings in Serie A having graduated from under-utilised substitute to most important player in a matter of weeks. The 22-year-old has scored 13 times and registered a further eight assists in only 19 starts after winning over Allegri in the autumn.

"They will be the stars of this match," former Juventus striker Fabrizio Ravanelli told Goal this week. "They are two magnificent players. Higuain is deadly; a unique striker who sees the goal as well as anyone. He will be a constant danger."

"Dybala has surprised me a lot in the first part of this season. He has a magic left foot and the numbers speak clearly for themselves: dribbling, wonderful assists for his team-mates, lots of goals and a great ability all across the pitch."

It's Italy's best attack - Napoli have scored 53 times in the league - against Italy's best defence with Juventus having conceded only once in their nine matches so far in 2016.

However, while Napoli will be at full strength with Higuain, Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon leading the threat, Juventus have been ripped apart by injuries. Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic were already ruled out and Martin Caceres and Giorgio Chiellini are the latest casualties.

Their absences mean Allegri is near certain to switch from the 3-5-2 which has brought about the Juventus resurgence to a four-man backline. That change, though, could well be counterbalanced by Napoli's paltry record in Turin; they have never beaten Juve at their current home and lost 3-1 there last season.

Nonetheless, Napoli will be emboldened by their 2-1 victory over the champions at San Paolo earlier this season - even if it came during Juventus's crisis at the start of the season. That night, inevitably, Higuain was on target as was Insigne.

It's one Argentine against another as Serie A's only two remaining title contenders face off for first place. Fiorentina and Inter have fallen away allowing Napoli - the outsiders who have strung together a club-record eight league wins in a row - and Juve, the relentless juggernaut, to take over. It's going to be some game in Turin on Saturday evening.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

De Laurentiis: 'Make history against Juve'

http://www.football-italia.net/79744/de-laurentiis-make-history-against-juve?

Feb 12, 2016

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis wants to 'make history' by beating Juventus: 'But this match won't decide the Scudetto'.

The game between the Bianconeri and the Partenopei, due to be played this Saturday evening at 20.45 CET - 19:45 GMT, is probably the most anticipated of the season.

“But we still have 13 matches and 39 points available,” De Laurentiis specified in an interview with La Stampa. “The championship won't be decided in Turin.

“I feel great solidarity with Napoli, and with the Neapolitans who live this extraordinary moment, which hasn't been experienced since the times of Maradona.

“And I feel like someone who's been through primary school, high school and university in a flash. I still remember the tifosi spitting on us at the Martina Franca, when Napoli was in Serie C...

“Juventus? They are an extraordinary club, with a tried-and-tested structure that's come on a long journey and that even lets them make a few mistakes every now and then.

“That's why beating them – not tomorrow, but over the whole championship – would mean making history.”

The film producer then discussed one of his favourite signings of the season, Mirko Valdifiori.

“I selected him before choosing Sarri. In cinema the director is fundamental.

“But in football, I didn't have one, not with Mazzarri nor with Benitez. Now I have two directors: Jorginho and Valdifiori.

“Valdifiori himself was the link to get to Sarri. With Benitez, the team never trained as much as they did under Sarri.

“Why did I rescind with Benitez? I never look back on my past.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

'Phenomenon' Higuain is the perfect finisher – Maccarone

The 36-year-old has hailed his fellow striker's abilities in front of goal, though feels
former boss Maurizio Sarri has his work cut out for him against a revitalised Juve side.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2565/exclusive/2016/02/12/20251182/-?

Feb 12, 2016

Empoli striker Massimo Maccarone has weighed in on the upcoming top-of-the-table clash between Juventus and Napoli, claiming the latter have “the perfect finisher” in the form of Gonzalo Higuain.

The match has been stylised as Juve's defence versus the Partenopei's attack, but the 36-year-old feels that singling out sections of each team for praise is misguided.

“It's restrictive,” Maccarone told Goal. “Napoli's strength, other than the phenomenon of Higuain, comes from organisation across all departments.

“If team-mates don't put you in a position to score, even the best striker will struggle. But Higuain is the best finisher for this team.

“Juventus have more individuality, you can't just say they have a strong defence – just look at the attacking quality!

“Juve defend well because their players have spent a lot of time together, but they're far more than just a defensive team.”

Maurizio Sarri has overseen Napoli's rise to the top of Serie A since his arrival from Empoli, Maccarone's current team, and the striker said that he knew his former boss would flourish if they players listened to his ideas.

“He has the full support of the squad,” he added. “That doesn't always happen at top teams, but it seems the players are listening to what Sarri has to say and the results are evidence of that.

“I think he has a group of players who are doing their best to get it right, who have understood that by playing in a certain way you can achieve great things.

“And when results follow, players are happy.”

On the result, Maccarone was careful not to come off the fence, but feels that his former boss' methodology can lead his new side to victory against the reigning champions.

“They are two very strong teams,” he went on. “When we faced Juventus at home it was not the team as they are now, but they have shown with their recent recovery that they have an incredible winning mentality as well as a very large squad.

“Napoli’s is not so big, but having said that and knowing the ideas of Sarri well, I am sure that they can go to Turin to attack and to win.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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MATCHDAY 25
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Juventus vs. Napoli: Team News, Predicted Lineups

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2615511-juventus-vs-napoli-team-news-predicted-lineups-live-stream-tv-info?

Feb 12, 2016

Juventus and Napoli meet in Turin on Saturday night, facing off in a match that will undoubtedly have a major say in the destination of the Serie A title. The Bianconeri are just two points behind their opponents, and a win for either side could end the other’s hopes of clinching the ultimate prize.

The visitors have not won the Scudetto since the days Diego Maradona carried them to the only two championships in their history, but their current form has given them hope of ending that 26-year drought.

Losing coach Rafael Benitez in the summer, Napoli turned to Maurizio Sarri as his replacement, and the 57-year-old has improved the side beyond all expectation. Sitting top of the table, the Partenopei boast the highest number of goals scored (53) and second-fewest conceded (19) under a man with only one year of top-flight experience.

Currently enjoying a club-record eight consecutive victories, they come up against the only side in arguably better form, with Juventus having won 14 in a row themselves. The Bianconeri have scored eight fewer times but have the meanest defence in Italy after allowing just 15 goals in the 24 matches thus far.

But they approach this clash with a large number of injuries, the club’s official website revealing that Giorgio Chiellini had been ruled out for 20 days with a calf injury. That sees him join Martin Caceres, Mario Mandzukic and Kwadwo Asamoah on the sidelines, while Sami Khedira will hope to return.

It is certain to be an enthralling match, although Marcello Lippi—who coached both teams during his successful career—believes that by May, it will not ultimately prove vital to whoever clinches the ultimate prize.

“Whatever happens on Saturday, there will still be 13 games or 39 points until the end of the season,” he told Radio Radio2 this week (h/t Football Italia). “Whatever the result, it won’t be decisive.”

 

Probable Formations

Juventus (3-5-2):

Gigi Buffon; Daniele Rugani, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Stefano Sturaro, Claudio Marchisio, Paul Pogba, Alex Sandro; Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala

Unavailable: Giorgio Chiellini, Mario Mandzukic, Kwadwo Asamoah, Martin Caceres and Rubinho (all injured)


Napoli: (4-3-3):

Pepe Reina; Elseid Hysaj, Raul Albiol, Kalidou Koulibaly, Faouzi Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Marek Hamsik; Jose Callejon, Gonzalo Higuain, Lorenzo Insigne

Unavailable: None


Player to Watch

While both teams are clearly in form, nobody is playing at a higher level than Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentinian striker has now netted 24 goals in 24 league matches, sitting just three goals behind his career-high for a single season and almost certain to be Serie A’s top scorer at the end of the campaign.

He is already nine clear of nearest challenger—Juve’s Paulo Dybala—and has found the net more often than even the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez to be Europe’s leading striker.

OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo
6 - Gonzalo Higuaín is the first player to score in 6 consecutive Serie A games this season. Mark.

Higuain gave his side the crucial breakthrough in a tough clash with Carpi last weekend and has shrugged off his reputation for not delivering on the biggest stage by scoring against Fiorentina, Inter, AS Roma and in the first meeting with the Bianconeri back in September.

“I have confidence thanks to the coach, my teammates and the club,” he told Sky Italia (h/t ESPN FC). “Sarri has a lot to do with my form, a lot. I thank him and just want to maintain this form.”


Key Battle

While keeping Higuain in check will be a tough task for Juve’s injury-hit defence, this match could well be won and lost in midfield, where playmakers Jorginho and Claudio Marchisio will go head-to-head.

The latter has once again been crucial for the Bianconeri, blending superb tactical acumen with a vastly improved range of passing. According to statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, Marchisio has averaged 2.3 tackles and 2.9 interceptions per game while completing 89.6 percent of his 65 pass attempts.

Meanwhile, Jorginho has been another player to make a giant leap under Sarri’s guidance, with the same source showing no player in Europe’s top five leagues has made more passes per game than his average of 99.1.

He has weighed in with five assists in all competitions, but his ability to keep Napoli’s possession-based game ticking over, and whoever comes out on top between Jorginho and Marchisio, could decide this tie.


Odds (via Odds Shark)

Away win: 11-4

Home win: 51-50

Draw: 59-25

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127