JUVENTUS SEASON 2024-2025

[Socrates 8435]

Juventus 0 - Club Brugge 0: Initial reaction and random observations

 

It’s the closing seconds of stoppage time Tuesday night and an unexpected name, Federico Gatti, jumps on a loose ball after Club Brugge wasn’t able to clear the ball by the corner flag. Gatti, as we know, loves a random moment to attack, and very much approached this situation with the kind of gusto you’d expect from him.

 

He sent in a cross that needed just the slightest bit of touch on the ball to come close to one of his handful of teammates in the opposing penalty area. But instead of hitting the ball with that kind of finesse, it was hit with about as much steam as we saw from the shot that hit Gatti in the face earlier in the second half.

 

If you wanted a total summation of Juventus’ ineffectiveness in the final third — as well as Gatti’s overall steez on the field — against Club Brugge, I feel like that moment is an appropriate one.

 

The very impressive and extremely refreshing performance in all aspects that we saw from Juventus this past weekend against AC Milan was far from being there in Belgium. ............

 

Here’s the difference in how a win could have changed Juventus’ position in the Champions League table entering the second half of Matchday 7:

• Atalanta, the team that was directly above Juve in the league phase table, jumped up 10 spots into fourth place with their win over Sturm Graz.
•  
• With Juventus’ third UCL league phase draw, they stayed ... basically right where they were at the start of the night.

Instead, what we got was an overall performance that provided just two two shots total and a combined xG of 0.14 from Juve and Club Brugge in the first half. We can boast about Juventus recording the first shot on target of the night, but the catch with it is that it came through Manuel Locatelli’s long-range effort that was saved by Simon Mignolet in the 85th freaking minute.

 

The 85th minute! As in five minutes before stoppage time in the second half. ............

 

But the inability to both create a lot and then actually take advantage of the little chances they did have certainly prevented Juventus from getting anything more than a draw Tuesday night. There were passes that were missed in the simplest kind of way. There were moments where a pass went one way and the run a Juve player was making went basically the other in a way that made you think about what the hell was going on. ............

 

In short, Juventus finished with five shots against Club Brugge. That’s it.

 

Yet, amongst those chances, there were goals to be had. None of them were on target, but they should have been. Nico Gonzalez can tell you that. Teun Koopmeiners can tell you that. ............

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

 ............

• Guessing a lot of us didn’t think it would take until the third week of January for Douglas Luiz to make his first Champions League start with Juventus. But here we are.
• Juventus had 69% possession through the opening 20 minutes. Nice.
• Dusan Vlahovic entered Tuesday night’s game in the 76th minute. He recorded more key passes (1) than just about everybody in the starting lineup not named Nico Gonzalez.
• Speaking of Nico Gonzalez, that was a baaaaaaaaaaaaad miss. Holy smokes. ............
• One more sub note: Did Motta take off Samuel Mbangula too soon? Something to ponder, my friends.
• It was good to see Mbangula play well against the first club he played for in the youth ranks. He didn’t look overwhelmed by a moment that surely brought back memories where things literally began for him, and doing well on home soil in Belgium was nice to see. Hopefully this resurgent Mbangula form only continues because it’s nice to see him playing well again. ............
• Gatti was the one who was awarded the UEFA Man of the Match award. The picture of him holding said award did not look like a guy who was all that happy to be posing for it.
• Related note: Pierre Kalulu good. It just continues to be that way. Good, good, good.
• Tackles made by Kalulu: 5.
• Talkes made by the rest of Juventus: 3.
• I would like Koopmeiners to have another chance to put that header on target. It would be nice. Is that possible? ............
• So now let’s see what version of Juventus shows when they head to Naples this weekend. Surely a Antonio Conte-led Napoli side that has had a week in between games will see this tepid Juve performance in attack and be licking their chops.

Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/1/22/24348861/juventus-club-brugge-2025-champions-league-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

[Socrates 8435]

Juventus player ratings v Club Brugge – Average marks across the team

 

Juventus played a goalless draw against Club Brugge in the Champions League last night – here is our players’ rating.

 

Michele Di Gregorio – 6.5

He did not have much to do as Brugge never had a shot on target.

 

Nicolo Savona – 6.5

 ............

 

Federico Gatti -7.0

 ............

 

Pierre Kalulu 7.0

He and Gatti ensured Brugge’s dangerous men had frustrating nights.

 

Andrea Cambiaso – 7.0

This was a much better performance from Cambiaso who did the important things well at left back.

 

Douglas Luiz – 7.0

Luiz was in fine shape in this game, and he now has to build on this performance.

 

Manuel Locatelli – 7.5

Locatelli was the best player on the pitch tonight, as he did well in the defensive phase and had the only shot on target.

 

 

Samuel Mbangula 6.5

He gave Kyriani Sabbe a lot of trouble but couldn’t help Juve to find a goal.

 

Teun Koopmeiner – 5.5

On nights like this, Juve will certainly need more than he offered today.

 

Timothy Weah – 5,5

 ............

 

Nicholas Gonzalez – 5.5

This was not a good day for Juventus’ attack; he should have done better.

 

Substitutes

 

Kenan Yildiz – 5.5

Juve expects so much when he comes on, but he didn’t make any difference today.

 

Francisco Conceicao – 5.5

He was busy, but he lost the ball more times than he created chances.

 

Khephren Thuram – 6.0

He made some driving runs through midfield but could not help to change the score.

 

Dusan Vlahovic – 5.5

 ............

 

Weston McKennie – 6.0

He helped Juve maintain balance when he came on.

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-v-club-brugge-average-marks-across-the-team/

[Socrates 8435]

Locatelli impressed with Brugge’s system as he admits Juventus could have done more

 

Manuel Locatelli has shared his thoughts on Juventus’ goalless draw against Club Brugge in the Champions League last night, acknowledging that the team could have done more to secure a better result. ............

 

The game unfolded as a highly tactical battle, with both sides focusing on defensive solidity, which stifled each team’s attacking opportunities. Juventus struggled to overcome Brugge’s well-drilled system that effectively neutralised the Bianconeri’s key attacking threats. Similarly, Juventus remained solid at the back, ensuring that Brugge also found it difficult to create clear chances.

 

Reflecting on the match, Locatelli admitted that it was a tough contest but expressed optimism about the team’s qualification prospects. He said:

“It was a difficult match. I think they prepared well: they were quite closed, but they pressed in a concentrated manner. With this point we can qualify for the playoffs, even if we have the last match at home against Benfica that we want to beat, since we are at home. I think it was a good match, even if we could have done more.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/locatelli-impressed-with-brugges-system-as-he-admits-juventus-could-have-done-more/

[Socrates 8435]

Di Canio: Juventus ‘predictable’ and ‘too tidy’ against Club Brugge

 

Former Lazio and West Ham star Paolo Di Canio criticised Juventus for being too focused on not ‘taking risks’ and playing ‘too tidy’ in the last third in Tuesday’s goalless draw in the Champions League against Club Brugge.

 

According to the former player the Bianconeri’s difficulties in creating and capitalising on chances depend on their tendency to play safe, which often leads them to dominate possession without being able to convert it into clear opportunities. ............

 

Di Canio stressed how individual plays are currently Juventus’ only way to become less ‘predictable’.

 

“I get not wanting to take risks in front of the defence, but in the final third, you can’t play it too clean,” the 56-year-old said analysing the match. ............

 

“They’re missing that one-on-one upfront and the killer ball. In the last 25-30 meters, Juventus are playing it too tidy, and they become predictable unless Mbangula, Yildiz, or Conceição manage to create something out of nothing.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/di-canio-juventus-predictable-club-brugge/

[Socrates 8435]

Motta admits Juventus were not creative enough to beat Club Brugge

 

Thiago Motta has admitted that his Juventus team lacked creativity in their Champions League match against Club Brugge last night, ultimately failing to secure a win. ............

 

Despite Juventus’s confidence and aspirations for a positive result, the encounter was more challenging than anticipated. Brugge’s well-organised structure posed significant difficulties for the Binaconeri, restricting their attacking players to minimal opportunities. Throughout the game, Juventus struggled to break through Brugge’s disciplined defensive setup. It was not until late in the match that the visitors managed their first shot on target, while the hosts failed to register any attempts on target themselves. ............

 

“All the teams that have passed by here have had difficulty playing with this team that closes very well and defends very well, always leaving one more behind. We also had difficulties, without suffering but not creating something sufficient to be able to win the match. It’s a shame because we could have done better tonight, always respecting the opponent, and also without taking away credit from them who have created great difficulties for other teams during the whole match and also on the counterattack they took the lead not allowing the opponent to get back into the game. We instead suffered very little creating not enough to be able to win.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/motta-admits-juventus-were-not-creative-enough-to-beat-club-brugge/

[Socrates 8435]

Napoli vs. Juventus: Head-to-head record and past meetings

 

Napoli and Juventus lock horns in one of the most eagerly-anticipated fixtures in the Italian football calendar on Saturday evening.

 

A rivalry that began when Napoli rose to prominence with Diego Maradona in their ranks in the 1980s, this is essentially a battle between north and south, with Juve the biggest club in the north, and Napoli representing the south.

 

Intense title battles between the two took place in the 1980s, as well as the 2010s, but the two also shared a season in Serie B back in 2006-07, with both winning promotion, and they have competed at the top table ever since. ............

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 183
Napoli wins: 47
Draws: 51
Juventus wins: 85

 

Despite the domination Juventus enjoyed in Serie A throughout the 2010s, Napoli have always proven a difficult opponent for the Bianconeri, especially in recent years.

 

Both sides recorded a win on home soil against each other in the 2023-24 campaign, but Napoli held Juventus to a 0-0 in Turin when they met in September. ............

Last 20 meetings

Sep 21, 2024: Juventus 0-0 Napoli (Serie A)
Mar 03, 2024: Napoli 2-1 Juventus (Serie A)
Dec 08, 2023: Juventus 1-0 Napoli (Serie A)
Apr 23, 2023: Juventus 0-1 Napoli (Serie A)
Jan 13, 2023: Napoli 5-1 Juventus (Serie A)
Jan 06, 2022: Juventus 1-1 Napoli (Serie A)
Sep 11, 2021: Napoli 2-1 Juventus (Serie A)
Apr 07, 2021: Juventus 2-1 Napoli (Serie A)
Feb 13, 2021: Napoli 1-0 Juventus (Serie A)
Jan 20, 2021: Juventus 2-0 Napoli (Supercoppa Italiana)
Jun 17, 2020: Napoli 0-0 Juventus (4-2 pens) (Coppa Italia Final)
Jan 26, 2020: Napoli 2-1 Juventus (Serie A)
Aug 31, 2019: Juventus 4-3 Napoli (Serie A)
Mar 03, 2019: Napoli 1-2 Juventus (Serie A)
Sep 29, 2018: Juventus 3-1 Napoli (Serie A)
Apr 22, 2018: Juventus 0-1 Napoli (Serie A)
Dec 01, 2017: Napoli 0-1 Juventus (Serie A)
Apr 05, 2017: Napoli 3-2 Juventus (Coppa Italia Semi-Final second leg)
Apr 02, 2017: Napoli 1-1 Juventus (Serie A)
Feb 28, 2017: Juventus 3-1 Napoli (Coppa Italia Semi-Final first leg)

Last 10 Serie A meetings

Sep 21, 2024: Juventus 0-0 Napoli (Serie A)
Mar 03, 2024: Napoli 2-1 Juventus (Serie A)
Dec 08, 2023: Juventus 1-0 Napoli (Serie A)
Apr 23, 2023: Juventus 0-1 Napoli (Serie A)
Jan 13, 2023: Napoli 5-1 Juventus (Serie A)
Jan 06, 2022: Juventus 1-1 Napoli (Serie A)
Sep 11, 2021: Napoli 2-1 Juventus (Serie A)
Apr 07, 2021: Juventus 2-1 Napoli (Serie A)
Feb 13, 2021: Napoli 1-0 Juventus (Serie A)
Jan 26, 2020: Napoli 2-1 Juventus (Serie A)

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Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/napoli/head-to-head/napoli-vs-juventus-head-to-head-record-and-past-meetings_537985.html?newsnow

[Socrates 8435]

Official: Juventus secure spot in Champions knockout stage

 

 

Juventus have officially qualified to the knockout stage of the Champions League despite settling for a disappointing draw against Club Brugge.

 

The Bianconeri have thus far collected 12 points from the first seven matchdays of the Europa League stage, registering three wins, three draws and one defeat. ............

 

At the moment, Juventus sit 17th in the 36-team table, but their 12 points is enough to secure a spot in the knockout stage. With 25th-placed Man City only having 8 points in the tally, the Old Lady is certain to finish among the Top 24 sides.

 

The Bianconeri will end their group-stage campaign by hosting Benfica at the Allianz Stadium, and they’ll be gunning for a victory in an attempt to break into the Top 8 which will allow them to qualify directly for the Round of 16, otherwise, they will have to go through a play-off round with two more matches added to their already congested schedule.

 

Nevertheless, even a victory over the Portuguese giants might prove insufficient on that front, as it will hinge on the results of the other fixtures. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/official-juventus-secure-spot-in-champions-knockout-stage/

[Socrates 8435]

Conte: Napoli have ‘respect’ for Juventus, but ‘unbeatable teams don’t exist’

 

 

Antonio Conte believes that Napoli need the utmost respect for Juventus given that they are still unbeaten in Serie A this season, even if they have drawn 13 of their 21 league matches, but insists that Thiago Motta’s unbeaten league record has to come to an end ‘sooner or later’. ............

 

The Partenopei boss began his chat with the press with a moment of reflection given that it is now 14 years since he became head coach of Juventus. 

 

“14 years ago, well, most of my life in football was spent there, and it was great. A great lesson in every aspect. I try to be better, not just compared to those times, but also compared to 24 hours ago. We have a duty to improve every day. I feel much more complete as a coach, I’m 55 years old, I’ve had great experiences abroad at great clubs,” Conte said. ............

 

Juventus are the only team to still be unbeaten in Serie A after 21 matches, but the Bianconeri have drawn criticism for the fact that the majority of those matches have resulted in draws. 

 

Conte is not one of those critics, but he does warn that unbeatable teams ‘don’t exist’. 

 

“Juventus are unbeaten in 21 games, no team has managed to beat them, so all these comments are not quite right. Lots of those draws could have been wins, which is what has created this gap. Let’s not forget that last year we were 18-20 points off Juventus. ............

 

Unbeatable teams don’t exist, you have to lose sooner or later. Defeat is a part of life. They are a team with strong players and last year they picked up a lot of points near the top. They had an excellent transfer window, they are in the Champions League, they are a top club, like the Milan clubs, you always have to have a lot of respect. 

 

“You can’t hide there, but the goal is always to win.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/conte-napoli-have-respect-for-juventus/

[Socrates 8435]

Juventus probable lineup vs Napoli: Kolo Muani to make Serie A debut?

 

Juventus striker Randal Kolo Muani could make his debut from the first minute against Napoli when the two rivals clash heads on Saturday.

 

The Partenopei will host Thiago Motta’s men at the Stadio Maradona in what will be the headliner of the Serie A weekend. ............

 

Juventus will maintain the same backline from Tuesday’s Champions League stalemate against Club Brugge. In other words, Nicolo Savona, Federico Gatti, Pierre Kalulu and Andrea Cambiaso will start in front of Michele Di Gregorio, thus leaving Weston McKennie and new signing Alberto Costa on the bench.

 

In the middle of the park, Teun Koopmeiners will link with Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram who is tipped to return to the lineup. ............

 

On the wings, we expect Francisco Conceicao and Kenan Yildiz to regain their usual starting berths after coming off the bench in Europe. ............

 

 

Nevertheless, we shouldn’t be surprised to see Samuel Mbangula get the nod once again, especially after being the only member of the attacking bunch to get the thumbs-up from Motta.

Nevertheless, the most interesting choice is reserved for the striker role, with the source expecting Kolo Muani to make his debut for Juventus as a starter at the expense of Nico Gonzalez and Dusan Vlahovic. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-probable-lineup-vs-napoli-kolo-muani-to-make-serie-a-debut/

[Socrates 8435]

Preview: Napoli vs. Juventus - prediction, team news, lineups

 

Two Calcio giants will convene at Stadio Maradona for a keenly awaited contest, as Serie A leaders Napoli play host to unbeaten Juventus on Saturday.

 

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.

 

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Match preview

 ............

 

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. ............

Team News

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.

Juventus boast plenty of talent across the final third, but they often fail to fire, while their hosts are generally rock-solid at the back.

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Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/napoli/preview/preview-napoli-vs-juventus-prediction-team-news-lineups_563697.html

[Socrates 8435]

Serie A - Napoli vs. Juventus - Match Preview

 

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. ............

 

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. ............

 

Team News

 ............

 

 

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.

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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

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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 

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Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/serie-a-napoli-v-juventus-match-preview/

[Socrates 8435]

Napoli vs Juventus: Preview and Prediction

 

A gigantic clash awaits Serie A, as two sides in contrasting forms take on each other, with Napoli likely to be the team under more pressure than Juventus. Antonio Conte has dealt with the loss of star attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to PSG and has found solutions that continue to work out while the club works on finding a replacement. ............

 

Meanwhile,, visitors Juventus are the only team unbeaten in Serie A this season, and yet their manager is the one under more pressure than any of his top six peers. The reason has been the amount of games the Bianconeri are not able to win, and the number of draws they have this season.

 

Eight draws in their last ten league games have been damaging to another level for Juventus in their early bid to be part of the title chase. They are languishing in sixth place, with 13 points behind leaders Napoli in the standings, and that gap could extend with a loss away from home against Conte’s side.

 

Juventus endured another draw, this time in the UEFA Champions League against Club Brugge. The Bianconeri did manage a win in the league last weekend when hosting AC Milan and probably got their revenge for the Supercoppa Italiana loss in Saudi Arabia. A win in their next game against Napoli will ease some pressure on Motta and bring the Bianconeri back into the mix to challenge the top order.

Team News & Tactics

Napoli

 ............

 

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera; Anguisa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Neres

Juventus

Juventus’s injury issues have healed a bit in recent weeks, with only long-term absentees Gleison Bremer, Arkadiusz Milik, and Juan Cabal missing out. There are some transfer speculation surrounding Juventus in the current window with Andrea Cambiaso linked with a move alongside fellow defender Danilo.

 

Cambiaso is still expected to start in this game ahead of recent starter Weston McKennie. Juventus have agreed a move for Renato Veiga from Chelsea, but the Portuguese is unlikely to make the squad for this weekend. Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram will start in midfield, which does cast doubt on Douglas Luiz’s immediate future amid active links to the Premier League.

 

Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Teun Koopmeiners will begin in the attacking setup. Dusan Vlahovic was recently dropped for ‘technical reasons’ and is unlikely to start this one, as new arrival Randal Kolo Muani might get the nod to lead the line for Juventus against Napoli.

 

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Gatti, Kalulu, Cambiaso; Licatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Kolo Muani

Key Stats

• Napoli have won their last six matches in Serie A.
• Napoli have won their last four home matches against Juventus in all competitions.
• Juventus are undefeated in their last 29 matches in Serie A.
• Juventus have eight draws in their last ten Serie A games.

Player to Watch

Randal Kolo Muani

The Frenchman has arrived on loan from PSG and could be the alternative option that Thiago Motta has been looking for all this while. The out-of-form Dusan Vlahovic will now come under serious pressure if Kolo Muani makes a statement on the pitch with a solid performance against Napoli.

 

The reason for Kolo Muani to join Juventus has been the potential opening in the front of the attack, and with his arrival, Motta will hope he can begin firing straight away in the game against Napoli.

 

A solid performance versus the Partenopei will be a first step for Juventus to start considering a change of scenery up front, as the French international will have to prove over many games that he could be their long-term answer to their goalscoring problems.

Prediction

Napoli 2-1 Juventus

Juventus might be the only unbeaten side in Serie A, and in truth, it has been their defensive solidity more than the attacking prowess that has helped them not lose a game. However, they are facing a solid enough opposition in Napoli, and Antonio Conte could mastermind a problematic result for Motta.

 

Napoli are under severe pressure to maintain their place at the top of the tree, especially with Inter Milan lurking about. They have already shown plenty of mettle and character in their away win to Atalanta, as Conte might have the right quality to engineer a win over his former side and hand Juventus their first loss of the Serie A season. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Conte and his charges.

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Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2025/01/25/napoli-vs-juventus-preview-and-prediction-2/

[Socrates 8435]

Thiago Motta is coy about Kolo Muani’s chance of starting against Napoli

 

Randal Kolo Muani is finally a Juventus player after some delays, and he is now available to play for the team in their upcoming match against Napoli this weekend. Juventus fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new attacker, and the club hopes that Kolo Muani will meet expectations and score some goals to help improve their attacking options.

 

With Juventus needing to get back in the title race, this game against Napoli is a crucial one. Kolo Muani now faces the challenge of fitting into a team that has relied heavily on Dusan Vlahovic for goals this season. ............

 

Motta was asked if Kolo Muani had earned a place in the starting XI for the match against Napoli, and he stated: “Can he start? We will see Randal, he is available, he is in the group, we will see if he will start or not. The important thing is to have taken a player of his level, because we think he can cover the need that there is here, in a big team like Juventus. And that he can help the team to win matches.” ............

 

The match against Napoli is a significant challenge, and Juventus will need to be cautious and tactical in their approach. Whether or not Kolo Muani starts, he will be keen to make an impact and show his worth to the team.

 

In conclusion, Kolo Muani’s arrival offers Juventus more options in attack, and the upcoming game against Napoli presents an opportunity for him to make his mark. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/thiago-motta-is-coy-about-kolo-muanis-chance-of-starting-against-napoli/

[Socrates 8435]

[Socrates 8435]

Serie A Preview: Napoli vs Juventus – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction

 

One of the most heavily anticipated fixtures in the Serie A calendar takes place at Stadio Diego Maradona on Saturday as pacesetters Napoli take on top-four hopefuls Juventus.

 

Napoli consolidated their Scudetto credentials with a morale-boosting 3-2 win against fellow title rivals Atalanta last weekend. ............

 

Second-half blitz from Samuel Mbangula and Tim Weah inspired Thiago Motta’s ‘stalemate kings’ to a 2-0 home win, helping them close the gap on fourth-placed Lazio to only two points. It was supposed to be a turning point for Juventus, but they would soon ‘return to normal.’

 

Indeed, one of the most disappointing matches in midweek Champions League action saw the Bianconeri share the spoils with Club Brugge in a 0-0 draw at the Jan Breydel Stadium, inflicting substantial damage on their hopes of securing automatic Round-of-16 qualification.

Match Preview

Napoli

 ............

 

Juventus

Would you be surprised to know that September’s reverse fixture finished 0-0? Draws have been a common theme for Juventus this season, with an incredible 13 of their 21 top-flight outings ending level. As such, being the only unbeaten Serie A team couldn’t count for less, especially when factoring in a substantial 13-point deficit on Napoli pre-round.

 

Another stalemate is well on the cards. Juventus have shared the spoils in seven of their last eight away games in all competitions (W1), with only one featuring over 2.5 goals. With that in mind, fans in attendance may not be in for a spectacle, even though their last three league encounters in Naples produced 3+ goals and both teams on the scoresheet.

 

On a rare positive note, Juventus haven’t lost a competitive match on the road since April 2024 against Lazio. Any hope of winning at this stadium for the first time since March 2019 and, in turn, halting a five-game losing H2H away streak will hinge on the visitors’ ability to rediscover their scoring instincts.

Juventus have netted one goal or fewer on seven of their nine road trips since the start of November.

Team News

 ............

 

On the other hand, long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal, and Gleison Bremer remain unavailable for selection. Encouragingly for Motta, Francisco Conceicao and Kenan Yildiz will be at his disposal after overcoming minor fitness problems.

 

Napoli vs Juventus Potential Starting Line-ups

Napoli (4-2-3-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Neres; Lukaku.

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; McKennie, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; Gonzalez.

Napoli vs Juventus Prediction

Napoli’s recent home record against Juventus is too telling to be overlooked. Conte has instilled his winning mentality in the locker room, and if there’s a side capable of inflicting Juve’s first league defeat under Motta, it’s the Partenopei.

 

Prediction: Napoli to Win

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Read more -> https://cultofcalcio.com/serie-a-preview-napoli-vs-juventus-team-news-line-ups-prediction/

[Socrates 8435]

Napoli vs. Juventus match preview

 

When Juventus faced former manager Antonio Conte for the first time as Napoli manager, it was very much a case of seeing a work in progress. Conte’s first Serie A game at Napoli ended with him comparing his team to snow melting in the sun during his media rounds, and made you think the job ahead of him was going to be a massive one for a club that was an absolute turnstile for managers the season before.

 

That was in mid-September.

 

Now we’re in late-January and, well, Juventus’ second matchup with Napoli comes under a very different kind of guise to it. ............

 

There is no doubt that Napoli will be a step up from a Milan that was both hampered by injuries and suspensions as well as still very much adjusting to life under a new manager. Napoli’s “new” manager has them thinking Scudetto again — which, as I would like to remind you, was not exactly something the club had done all that often for the previous three decades before winning the title two years ago.

 

“We are ready to face this important challenge,” Motta declared during his pre-match press conference.

 

We are going to find out soon enough — and on Napoli’s home turf, no less.

 

If Juventus play like did the last time they lined up against Italian opposition, then you certainly have to believe that is the case. But if it’s like what we saw midweek against Club Brugge, then it might look a lot like what we’ve seen in the last couple of trips to Naples.

TEAM NEWS

• The only three players out injured for the trip to Naples are the long-term absences: Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal and Arek Milik. At this point, it really is anybody’s guess — at least from those of us on the outside — when Milik will actually return to the field and make his season debut.
• New Juventus striker Randal Kolo Muani, whose move to Turin was officially announced Thursday, is in the squad. (We’ll probably be talking a little more about him in a minute.)
• Fellow January signing Alberto Costa is also in the squad that has made the trip south to Naples, but is not expected to start against the current league leaders.
• Another January loan signing, Chelsea defender Renato Veiga, is expected to arrive in Italy on Sunday with his medical exams to take place on Monday morning, according to reports. ............
• What’s going to be a key, according to Motta, for Juventus against Napoli? He said the following: “We want to implement our style of play and attack them with balance in order to cause them problems.” ............

 

JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH

There is a new striker finally in town.

 

And if you believe those who try and predict the starting lineups, said new striker in town could very well get the starting nod all of a couple of days after officially signing with Juventus. ............

 

 

The arrival with Randal Kolo Muani has now coincided with the 26-year-old Frenchman jumping right into the starting lineup against the team that has been the best in Italy through the first 21 matchdays. Is that a surprise? Maybe. Is it a sign of how things are when it comes to Juventus’ attack right now? Yeah, probably.

 

But even with the highest-paid player in Serie A, Dusan Vlahovic, now with a couple of appearances off the bench since coming back from a minor muscle injury, it looks as though it will be the new striker getting a starting spot against Napoli. ............

 

 

So what will Kolo Muani give Juventus that Vlahovic might not be able to replicate? Well, for one, it’s pace up front, which in turn should certainly make him a little more dangerous while trying to press Napoli’s backline when Juve don’t have the ball. (And we all know how Vlahovic feels about pressing compared to scoring goals).

 

There’s certainly some curiosity when it comes to Kolo Muani and how he fits into this Juventus puzzle for the second half of the season. There are rumors that Motta could have more of a 4-3-3 look compared to his usual 4-2-3-1, which could be a positive shift in more ways than one. No matter what it ends up being, Kolo Muani leading the line seems like it has a pretty chance of happening. ............

 

MATCH INFO

When: Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.

Where: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy.

Official kickoff time: 6 p.m. in Italy and the Central European time zone, 5 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 12 p.m. Eastern time, 9 a.m. Pacific time. ............

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Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/1/25/24350133/napoli-juventus-2025-serie-a-matchday-22-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

[Socrates 8435]

[Socrates 8435]

Juventus lose unbeaten Serie A run with 2-1 loss to Napoli

 

Napoli demonstrated their title credentials with a spirited comeback to end Juventus’ unbeaten run in Naples this evening.

 

Juve started brightly, with Kenan Yildiz creating an excellent opportunity for himself, but Alex Meret produced an outstanding save to deny the youngster. ............

 

The match lived up to expectations, with both sides attacking with intent. However, it was Juventus who broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, as Randal Kolo Muani scored with his first shot on target—a perfect way for the Bianconeri to head into half-time.

 

Napoli emerged for the second half with renewed determination, and Politano again troubled the Juventus defence early on. The visitors’ resistance was tested further when Michele di Gregorio made a heroic goal-line save to preserve Juve’s lead.

 

However, the pressure finally told seven minutes later, as Frank Anguissa equalised for Napoli following poor defending by Weston McKennie.

 

The momentum stayed firmly with Napoli, who continued to dominate the game. Their efforts were rewarded when Romelu Lukaku converted from the penalty spot after Manuel Locatelli committed a foul in the box. Locatelli was immediately substituted, but Juventus struggled to find a way back into the match. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-lose-unbeaten-serie-a-run-with-2-1-loss-to-napoli/

[Socrates 8435]

Juventus player ratings v Napoli – Several low scores today

 

Michele di Gregorio – 7.0
Made some outstanding saves to keep Juve in the game, but he could do little to stop either goal.

 

Weston McKennie – 4.0
Struggled defensively as Napoli repeatedly targeted his side. Failed to handle Frank Anguissa for the equaliser, costing Juve dearly.

 

Federico Gatti – 6.5
Despite facing constant pressure from Napoli’s attack, he stood out with his determination and made a crucial clearance after Di Gregorio’s goal-line save.

 

Pierre Kalulu – 6.0
 ............

 

Andrea Cambiaso – 5.5
 ............

 

Khephren Thuram – 7.0
One of the better performers for Juve, particularly in the first half. His brilliant pass to Kenan Yildiz should have led to a goal.

 

Manuel Locatelli – 4.0
A poor performance overall. Struggled in midfield and gave away the penalty that ultimately decided the game.

 

Kenan Yildiz – 5.0
Missed a golden chance to open the scoring early on. His performances have dipped, and he may soon lose his spot to Samuel Mbangula.

 

Teun Koopmeiners – 4.5
Failed to make an impact in this big game. Juve needed him to step up, but he was largely anonymous.

 

Nicolas Gonzalez – 6.0
 ............

 

Randal Kolo Muani – 6.5
Scored on his debut and showcased his pace and dribbling, offering more dynamism than Dusan Vlahovic.

 

Substitutes

 

Samuel Mbangula – 6.0
 ............

 

Nicolo Savona – 5.0
 ............

 

Douglas Luiz – 6.0
 ............

 

Francisco Conceição – 5.0
Offered little impact after coming on. Might have made a difference if he had started the game.

 

Dusan Vlahovic – N/A
 ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-v-napoli-several-low-scores-today/

[Socrates 8435]

Thiago Motta: ‘Juventus do not have same luxury as Napoli’

 

 

Thiago Motta blamed fatigue and a packed fixture list for the fact Juventus fumbled another lead for the defeat to Napoli. ‘We do not have the luxury’ of one game per week.

 

The Bianconeri had gone into the half-time break with a 1-0 lead thanks to debutant Kolo Muani, who took just six touches in Italian football to get the goal on his debut.

 

However, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa’s header and a Romelu Lukaku penalty turned it around, as Juventus have incredibly fumbled 17 points from leading situations in Serie A this season. ............

 

“I am disappointed with the defeat. We had a good first half, causing our opponents a lot of problems, a side that is not top of the table as a fluke, because they have a great coach and had the opportunity to prepare all week for this,” Thiago Motta said.

 

“However, we did not have that luxury and it showed, because all the good work we did in the first half, we struggled to replicate in the second, and that is why we were unable to win.” ............

“We reacted well in many other situations, we just didn’t do it today. Juventus have not won here since 2019, it is important to point that out, it is the sixth consecutive defeat for the club here, so evidently that is a tough place for Juventus,” continued Motta. ............

“We showed strong character in the first half, played good football and caused our opponents problems by keeping possession, which is not easy here,” insisted Motta.

 

“We limited an important player like Lobotka and the idea was to be very solid in the second half, because we were against the Serie A leaders who are in good physical shape and were well-rested, whereas we were coming off a tiring game in Bruges. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/thiago-motta-juventus-not-same-luxury-napoli/

[Socrates 8435]

Juventus 1 - Napoli 2: Initial reaction and random observations

 

 

As Juventus came out of the tunnel to begin the second half Saturday night, Thiago Motta was asked what his team needed to do to stay in front of the current league leaders. Having just taken the lead before the halftime break, Motta told the DAZN sideline reporter that Juve simply needed to continue what they had done in the first half — an opening 45 minutes that was certainly eventful even before his team went in front.

 

One thing that didn’t take long to see: the Juventus of the second half was very much not like the one that went into the half. ............

 

The glow of Randal Kolo Muani giving Juventus the lead on his Juventus debut didn’t last long, as Napoli came out like absolute gangbusters and took full advantage of Motta’s squad very much not doing as their manager said they needed to do in the second half. It was the perfect storm of sorts — Napoli playing like a team absolutely possessed and Juventus basically being just the opposite of that as they tried to hold onto their lead. The result proved to be a 12-minute span where Napoli got goals from Frank Zambo Anguissa and Romelu Lukaku to flip the scoreline in their favor and hand Juventus a 2-1 loss at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

 

It’s the first loss in Serie A for Thiago Motta as Juventus manager. Yes, even though a good amount of all those draws that Juve have racked up so far in Serie A this season have certainly felt like losses.

 

When I say that Juventus saw barely any of the ball as Napoli were building toward tying the game through Zambo Anguissa, I ain’t kidding, my friends. Napoli had a stunning 90% possession through the first 10 minutes of the second half. ............

Oh, and one more second-half stat for good measure: Juventus didn’t record a single shot against Napoli in the second half. Not a single one. Hard to record any sort of xG when you don’t. ............

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• Well, at least Kolo Muani scoring on his Juve debut was cool. Pretty much everything that happened after the goal that put Juventus in front wasn’t, but the goal was.
• I’m still shaking my head whenever the fact that Juventus didn’t have a single shot in the second half pops into my train of thought. Just a total mess. ............
• At the top of that list might as well be Teun Koopmeiners, who again had a rough night despite the fact that he was very much playing deeper than he has been in recent weeks. At this point, it’s hard to say how much of it is him being used incorrectly, his confidence being shot or just about anything you can think of. There is not one singular reason for a player as talented as Koopmeiners is to be playing far from his best. At some point you have to believe it start to click again. The problem is, we just don’t know when that is.
• Zambo Anguissa shots against Juventus: 5.
• Juventus shots as a team: 5.
• No shots in the second half — really! Still shaking my head. ............
• It’s interesting that 1) Dusan Vlahovic didn’t start in one of the biggest remaining domestic matchups of the season and 2) he didn’t come into the game until the 82nd minute when Juventus were very much in need of a goal. As much as Juventus will probably try not to make it out to be much of a thing, but it certainly seems like something is there.
• In the eight minutes Vlahovic played before stoppage time arrived, he touched the ball all of ... one time.
• If Kolo Muani touched the ball more than five times in the second half, I would be shocked. That’s just how much Juve were pinned back and didn’t have the ball.

Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/1/25/24351724/juventus-napoli-2025-serie-a-matchday-22-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

[Socrates 8435]

“Seen many times now” Guardalá highlights ongoing Juventus issue after Napoli loss

 

 

Juventus showed that old habits are hard to shake as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Napoli at the Maradona Stadium this evening, despite taking the lead. The loss highlighted recurring issues within the Bianconeri squad, with familiar flaws surfacing once again in a game that required a much sharper mentality. ............

 

Despite taking the lead, Juventus struggled to build on their advantage. Instead of pushing for a second goal to assert control, the men in black and white fell into a defensive posture, an all-too-familiar approach this season. Napoli took full advantage of this hesitation, growing in confidence as the game wore on. The hosts equalised and then turned the match around with a second goal following sustained pressure on the Juventus defence. ............

 

The defeat drew sharp criticism from Giovanni Guardalà, who reflected on Juve’s inability to hold onto a lead and adapt effectively in such high-stakes encounters. He commented:

 

“This is something we’ve seen many times now. When Juventus takes the lead, they drop back, suffer, they don’t have the ability to defend inside the penalty area like in the past. They had one of the best first halves with courage, conviction—they were scoring right from the start with Yildiz, Meret was good, but they could have done more. They found the first goal at the end and the game didn’t seem to be on track, but Juventus could have managed it differently.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/seen-many-times-now-pundit-highlights-ongoing-juventus-issue-after-napoli-loss/

[Socrates 8435]

Second-half meltdown at Napoli spells Juventus’ first league defeat

 

 

Much had been made of Juventus’ unbeaten start of the season. Yes, that had included far more draws than was desirable by this point in the year — and often it was brought up simply to discuss that fact — but Juve were going into their Saturday evening tilt with Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on the cusp of a 30-game unbeaten run domestically.

 

It was always going to be hard to extend that run on Saturday. Juventus haven’t won in Naples since 2019, and Napoli were leading the league (barf) heading into the high-profile matchup. But after a relatively even first half that ended on the high note of new loan signing Randal Kolo Muani scoring on his debut, it looked like Juve had every chance of doing just that.

 

Unfortunately, the Juventus side that came out of the locker room for the second half was not the same one that went in.

 

Juventus were forced to defend deep immediately, and never recovered. In the first 10 minutes of the half, Napoli held 89 percent of the possession in the half. By the 69th minute, when Romelu Lukaku turned the game around with a penalty kick — given away via a horrific mistake by Manuel Locatelli — the number was still at 82.8.

 

Juve were never able to muster up anything close to a response. ............

 

Ultimately, the 2-1 defeat was incredibly deserved. Juve simply choked the second half away. Now, it will remain to be seen how the team will react now that they finally do have a loss in Serie A play — whether it will be a rallying point for a strong finish or the beginning of another second-half-of-the-season meltdown. ............

 

But they were in their normal spots when a huge early chance came their way. Cambiaso’s interception sent González down the left side. He pushed the ball to Thuram who made a beautiful entry pass into the box. Kolo Muani threw a perfect dummy and the ball found a completely unmarked Yildiz. The teenage Turk stopped short to let Spinazzola slide past him before firing for goal, but Meret managed to recover and lunge to parry it away, with Koopmeiners shinning the rebound way high and wide.

 

 

The long move started at the sideline near midfield, where McKennie deftly slipped the ball out of a double team to Koopmeiners. He pushed it forward to Yildiz, who in turn found Cambiaso running for the byline. The full-back missed a wide-open Kolo Muani with his cross, but Lobotka headed the ball right back to Yildiz in the box. He tried to square it for a shot for Koopmeiners, but a lunge from Anguissa deflected it back towards his own goal, where Kolo Muani tracked it over his shoulder and skipped a volley into the net with Meret completely stranded.

 

 

Perhaps going straight into the locker room took that momentum and turned it into a crash. We’ll never really know what happened in those 15 minutes, but whatever it was, the 11 men who walked out were completely different from the ones who went in.

 

Juventus were sealed into their own half from the first whistle. Unlike the second half, nothing they could do could help them escape. Napoli’s press completely suffocated Juve, preventing them from stringing any kind of passes together to break out of there. ............

 

It was Anguissa who was given another bite at the apple in the 57th minute. Well, really two bites, since it was his blocked shot that started the move. Politano recovered the ball and fed it in to Lukaku, who was forced away from goal by Kalulu and returned it to the winger, who got a step past Cambiaso to loft a ball to the back post, where Anguissa took advantage of a huge pocket of space between McKennie and Gatti and rose for a powerful header, this time one that Di Gregorio had no hope of reaching. ............

 

But there was no escaping the whistle when Locatelli made an incredibly rash slide into McTominay and drew a whistle almost immediately. Lukaku made no mistake, sending Di Gregorio to one side as he calmly slid the ball down the middle.

 

 

As the 75th minute approached, marking the half-hour mark of the second half, the numbers were insane. Napoli had maintained 82 percent possession in close to 30 minutes of play, outshooting them 8-0 and gaining five corners to none for the Bianconeri. It was an astounding level of dominance, one that I don’t remember Juve having been on the receiving end of for a long time. ............

 

LE PAGELLE

MICHELE DI GREGORIO - 6. The save he pulled on Lukaku was incredible, but he also had some shocking moments in distribution in the first half that could have gifted Napoli a major chance.

WESTON McKENNIE - 5. Got toasted a few times by Neres and especially Spinazzola, and there was clearly some miscommunication about who was supposed to be marking Anguissa on the equalizer.

PIERRE KALULU - 6.  ............

FEDERICO GATTI - 5. Piled up the counting stats with seven clearances, but his marking on Lukaku on the play that led to Di Gregorio’s save was bad, leaving far too much space between him and his man. It’s also hard not to say he should’ve backed off and helped McKennie on Anguissa, because the runners in the middle looked covered.

ANDREA CAMBIASO - 5.  ............

MANUEL LOCATELLI - 4.5. Not quite the force he was against Milan in the first half, but still relatively successful in helping Juve to nearly 60 percent of possession in the opening period. But after the break was an entirely different matter. He allowed Napoli’s midfield to overwhelm himself and Thuram, and the slide in on McTominay is an inexcusable error born of recklessness. Loca is quite good at slide tackles, and sometimes it feels like he thinks that’ll make every one of them successful.

KHEPHREN THURAM - 5.5.  ............

KENAN YILDIZ - 5. Did a great job with that early chance except at the end. It was an excellent save by Meret, but he also could’ve placed it a little bit better. His defensive support was a little lacking today as compared to his usual standard.

TEUN KOOPMEINERS - 4. Took two shots and ballooned both of them into the crowd, Dropped a little deeper to pick up the ball and work out of midfield but wasn’t able to get anything done. He needs to start turning things around.

NICO GONZÁLEZ - 5.5.  ............

RANDAL KOLO MUANI - 6. Scored with his sixth touch in a Juventus shirt, and it was an excellent finish, volleying on the turn past a helpless keeper. Unfortunately he was given nothing to do in the second half by a team that had completely gone flat.

SUBS

SAMUEL MBANGULA - 5.5.  ............

NICOLÒ SAVONA - 5.5.  ............

FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO - 5.5.  ............

DOUGLAS LUIZ - 5.  ............

DUSAN VLAHOVIC - NR.  ............

MANAGER ANALYSIS

This game’s tough to figure out. The first half was played quite well. They had 60 percent possession, outshot Napoli, and went in with the lead. They had all the momentum going into halftime.

 

Obviously, credit must be given to Napoli for playing the way they did in the second half — likely Antonio Conte was flinging water bottles around the locker room during the break — but this collapse is kind of mind-boggling, especially considering that Motta told DAZN’s on-field reporters before the second half kickoff that what was needed was more of the same in the second half.

 

Motta’s intention was clearly to continue to play on the front foot in the press. His comments both at halftime and after the game make that abundantly clear. He repeatedly brought up the fact that Napoli don’t have a European schedule to deal with this year as a factor in the second-half collapse, which I frankly didn’t like. Yes, this is a young team that still needs experience when it comes to playing two games a week, but it’s still smells of excuses, and there really aren’t any for this kind of showing. ............

LOOKING AHEAD

Wednesday sees Benfica come to Turin. It will be the first meeting between the two historic clubs since the Portuguese giants won both games in the 2022-23 group stage, the second one in dominant fashion before a late comeback made the score far more respectable than it had any right to be.

 

After that, Juve will get two very winnable league games in Empoli (home) and Como (away) before they welcome Inter to the Allianz for the second leg of the Derby d’Italia.

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Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/1/26/24351907/napoli-juventus-2025-serie-a-matchday-22-final-score-result-match-recap-analysis-thiago-motta

[Socrates 8435]

Today’s Papers: This is Conte, No Juventus growth

 ............

 .........

 

Conte eats up Motta 

 

Kolo Muani benches Vlahovic and flies.

 

Antonio overturns them and moves to +6 and attacks: ‘If you’re at Juve, you need to win right away’ 

 

To the rivals for the title: ‘We’re a squad, others are just nice for the media’ 

 

 

This is Conte 

 

Napoli ruthless, Juve crushed and Inter at -6 

 

Six victories in a row: Motta’s unbeaten run is ended (2-1)

 

Anguissa and Lukaku’s penalty cancel the advantage from Kolo Muani: Inzaghi at Lecce with two games in hand. Gasperini beats Como 2-1 ............
 

 

Motta: Zero growth

 

Conte tears them apart with Napoli (2-1) and says: ‘You have to win at Juve’ 

 

After the 1-0 from Kolo Muani, the game collapses, in spirit and in the standings (-16): Goals from Anguissa and Lukaku. First loss in the league and other worrying signals. Thiago: ‘Inexplicable, but losing is part of the job’ ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/todays-papers-this-is-conte-no-juve-growth/

[Socrates 8435]

Sacchi explains what went wrong for Juventus in Napoli, but tips Motta to ‘win this challenge’

 

 

Legendary Italian manager Arrigo Sacchi still firmly believes in Juventus head coach Thiago Motta despite falling short in Napoli.

 

Despite taking the lead in the first half through their debutant Randal Kolo Muani, the Bianconeri succumbed to their first defeat of the season in Serie A, as their league leaders turned the result upside-down in the second period with goals from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Romelu Lukaku from the spot. ............

 

“Juventus did well in the first half, they pressed high with the attackers, something they have almost never done in the past, and for this reason I appreciated them,” wrote the 78-year-old in his column.

 

“But in the second half, they let themselves be overwhelmed and were not able to turn the action around.

 

“Thiago Motta, who I know well and respect a lot, must not be demoralized. He is on the right path, as he is teaching his players a possession-based, modern, aggressive style of football. A little patience is needed, but I am convinced that Thiago, in the long run, will be able to win his challenge and will find success at the club.

 

“The important thing is that the club must always support him, especially in delicate moments, because it is in those moments that coaches need help and advice.” ............

 

“Motta is a well-prepared, serious coach who loves his job and believes in his ideas. Look at what he was able to do with Bologna last season. He will also do it at Juventus, provided he has the time to convey his thoughts.

 

“The match was fairly balanced in the first half, when the Bianconeri were good at pressing their opponents and trying to close down passing lines. It means that Thiago Motta had prepared the match well. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/sacchi-explains-what-went-wrong-for-juventus-in-napoli-but-tips-motta-to-win-this-challenge/