Napoli to press on with perfect start to 2020/2021
The final match of the week in Serie A promises to be very intriguing. Juventus under legendary player but distinctly novice manager Andrea Pirlo entertain a Napoli outfit that have racked up eight goals without reply in their first two league fixtures. There could scarcely be a better time to play I Bianconeri whilst they remain in transition. Expect them to take full advantage... and read our preview here:
Juve's undercooked midfield
Last time out, Juventus were fortunate to come away from their pulsating clash with Roma with a draw, and they looked pedestrian in the centre of the park, vulnerable on the counter, and far too reliant on Ronaldo to dig them out of a hole. Adrien Rabiot's needless red card will see him suspended for this big match, so Uruguayan Rodrigo Bentancur could cement his own place in the side in his absence. Nevertheless, a midfield four of Aaron Ramsey (bizarrely wide left), Bentancur, Weston McKinnie, and Dejan Kulusevski are collectively unlikely to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents. The best strategy would be to keep the ball as high up the pitch for as long as possible. Naturally, Ronaldo can be relied upon to create something out of nothing, and any crosses that the hosts are able to fire in are surely going to be aimed at his trusty head.
Napoli's numerous threats
On the other hand, the visitors will arrive in Turin supremely confident, and more pertinently, much better organised from a tactical point of view. Their 6-0 annihilation of Genoa is a portent of things to come, and Gennaro Gattuso has his feet firmly under the table with Gli Azzurri. The spine of the team, having retained the services of Kalidou Koulibaly despite heavy interest from Manchester City, looks ominously strong. The double pivot screening the defence are extremely adept at pinching possession back, which can quickly in turn feed the likes of Hirving Lozano and Dries Mertens. The pair weighed in heavily with the goals in their previous game, and new striker Victor Osimhen won't have to wait too long to make his scoring bow.
A statement of intent
No matter what, Juventus won't be pushovers, but it will take time for both Pirlo and his charges to be in some semblance of harmony. They could only achieve fortunate parity in their first big test under his management, and it's arguable that Napoli on current form are a far tougher examination of their credentials than even Roma were. A cursory glance at the probable teamsheets reveals that on paper, the away side seem superior. This should be borne out on Sunday evening, and bet365 are offering odds of 6.00 for Napoli to be winning at both half-time and full-time.
