Italian Serie A preview: SSC http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003 – Juventus FC
SSC Napoli musings: Neapolitan’s Champions League ambitions
Partenopei are on a perpetual improvement curve as they improve their league record with each passing season. Diego Maradona’s former side have invested reasonably in their squad as Champions League football remains a possibility. Azzurri
are still some way from being tagged ‘Scudetto contenders’ as their results against the bigger Italian teams; AC Milan, SS http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan, have left a lot to be desired.
However, with New Year come new ambitions. Azzurri would do well to start a positive trend by winning against the Old Lady of Italian football. Napoli will welcome Juventus to Stadio San Paolo tonight in what promises to be an enthralling
affair. Both the teams are coming on the back of humiliating defeats and it would be interesting to see how they manage to pick their act up.
Juventus FC musings: Overcoming the Turin humiliation
In the first game of the new calendar, Juve were set to play a struggling Parma outfit and many expected a routine victory. However, Bianconeri were outplayed by a hungry Ducali outfit; the final score line read 4 – 1 against Juventus.
Bianconeri are aiming for Champions League football, but such results will prove drastically detrimental to the elite club’s ambitions.
On a positive note, Juve have done well against traditional Italian giants; Bianconeri managed to win points off Inter Milan, AC Milan and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603, and there is room for optimism going into this game.
A trip to Naples can never be easy, but Luigi Del Neri will have to use all his motivational skills to get a result. Where a victory will be an excellent result, even a draw would suffice for the Bianconeri tactician.
Team News
SSC Napoli
Walter Mazzarri will be delighted to have a clean bill of health approaching this titanic battle. Furthermore, Partenopei have no disciplinary issues and the manager will be able to field a full strength squad for the game.
Juventus FC
Luigi Del Neri will have to do without the mercurial http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paolo-De-Ceglie-c29083 and
Vicenzo Iaquinta will also remain in Turin treatment tables.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Felipe-Melo-c13535, owing all to his Kung-Fu kick enforced red card, will sit out the match due to suspension.
Key Players
Marek Hamsik
The Slovakian is one of the best youngsters in Europe and on his day, he can be unstoppable. Against Inter Milan on Wednesday, Hamsik was anonymous as his club were thrashed 3 – 1. Hamsik will have to answer his critics in ideal fashion
with a brainstorming performance. The likes of Lavezzi and Cavani heavily depend on the playmaker’s creativity. Hamsik must not let them down again.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alberto-Aquilani-c4313
The little crocodile has been a rejuvenated man upon his return to Italian football. His sizzling form and sublime midfield play has earned him some rare reviews. Tonight must not be any different. With Quagliareall and Melo out, Aqua
man will have to dominate the proceedings and set up opponents with his trademark juicy passes.
Prediction
The game will be an interesting affair with plenty of chances coming both ends. However, the two sides just can’t be separated. Luigi Del Neri will be content with a draw and that is precisely what he will get. Napoli 2 – 2 Juventus.
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