Juventus v Napoli preview: Spalletti under pressure as banned Allegri returns to Turin
Juventus v Napoli pits two sides level on 14 points against each other in Turin, with Spalletti under pressure after defeat at Genoa and Allegri banned from the touchline.
Juventus v Napoli is a meeting of two Serie A heavyweights stuck in the pack, with both sides level on 14 points and Luciano Spalletti under growing pressure in Turin.
Main image: DSN graphic.
Kick-off at the Allianz Stadium is 7.45pm UK time on Sunday, with Simone Sozza the referee. Nine games in, neither club looks like a title challenger yet. Both have won four, drawn two and lost three, and both sit just outside the European places.
Juventus v Napoli: Spalletti feels the heat
Juventus arrive bruised. A 2-0 defeat at Genoa in midweek made it two wins from their last five in all competitions, and Italian reports say chief executive Giovanni Carnevali gave the squad a blunt talking-to in the dressing room afterwards. Questions about Spalletti’s future are now being asked openly.
The injury list does not help. Kenan Yildiz, Nicolás González and Francisco Conceição are among the players reported to be missing, while Manuel Locatelli, goalkeeper Kamil Grabara and Zeki Çelik are also listed as absent. Randal Kolo Muani is expected to lead the line, with Weston McKennie and Gleison Bremer among the more familiar names likely to start.
It has been a busy week for Italy’s big clubs, coming straight after a derby weekend in Milan that we previewed in our Milan v Inter preview.
Napoli ride their goals, Allegri watches from the stands
Napoli are in better spirits. They came from behind to win 4-1 at Monza in midweek and have scored 12 goals in their last five games, though they have also conceded 11. That run includes a 3-3 draw with Roma and a 4-3 Champions League win over Bodø/Glimt.
Massimiliano Allegri, a former Juventus coach, will not be on the touchline for his return to Turin. He is serving a ban, so assistant Marco Landucci takes charge from the bench.
Napoli have problems of their own. Stanislav Lobotka was stretchered off against Monza and is ruled out, with Leonardo Spinazzola, David Neres and Benoît Badiashile also reported to be missing. Scott McTominay, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Rasmus Højlund should still start up front. The Dane made headlines of his own during the international break when he did a Ronaldo celebration against Portugal.
Key numbers
| Juventus | Napoli | |
|---|---|---|
| Serie A points | 14 | 14 |
| Record (W-D-L) | 4-2-3 | 4-2-3 |
| Goals for / against | 11 / 10 | 17 / 11 |
| Last match | L 0-2 at Genoa | W 4-1 at Monza |
| Coach | Luciano Spalletti | Massimiliano Allegri (banned) |
| Last meeting | Juventus 3-0 Napoli | |
What it means
Juventus won the last meeting 3-0, but form points the other way. A home defeat would leave Spalletti in a very tight spot, and Napoli’s free-scoring attack makes that a real risk. The Italian game is under the spotlight on several fronts this autumn, from the club title race to the national team, as seen in our France v Italy Nations League preview.
For Napoli, a win in Turin would lift them clear of their rivals and keep the pressure on the top four. Our sister site DGBN has followed Napoli’s squad planning, including reports of their interest in a Woltemade loan.
