09 September 2021, 16:53 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The Italian Serie A fixture, S.S.C. Napoli vs. Juventus F.C. kicks off at 17:00 (GMT+1) on Saturday, September 11 at the Stadio San Paolo.
Preview Napoli Serie A, Sep 11, 2021
Preview After back-to-back victories, Napoli will face one of the toughest tests of the new campaign on Matchday 3 when they line up against Juventus on home soil. Before the international break, Gli Azzurri defeated crisis-hit Genoa, 2-1, at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium. Insigne struck the woodwork in the 13th minute before forcing a save out of the goalkeeper, Salvatore Sirigu. Napoli eventually broke the deadlock after a left footer from Fabian Ruiz (39') curled around and beyond Sigiru in goal. Pandev thought he had equalized for Genoa, but his goal was ruled out after a VAR review spotted a foul on Napoli's goalkeeper, Alex Meret. Minutes later, a cushioned half-volley from Andrea Cambiaso (69'), threaded in between a blue shirt and the frame of goal saw Genoa level. Napoli eventually grabbed the win through the second-half substitute, Andrea Petagna (84'), who scored two minutes after coming on. A victory over Juventus would see fifth-placed Napoli move a step into the top-four. Luciano Spalletti moved Lorenzo Insigne to the middle in the 4—3—3 formation he adopted against Genoa due to the absence of a proper center-forward. The club recently succeeded in appealing against the red card picked up by Victor Osimhen in the game against Venezia on Matchday 1. The Nigerian will be available for this fixture against Juventus, and his return will see the captain slip back into the left wing in a similar shape on Saturday. Dries Mertens remains unavailable with a shoulder injury, while Piotr Zielinski is in doubtf for this fixture due to a leg injury.
Preview Juventus Serie A, Sep 11, 2021
Preview Meanwhile, Juventus have only one point after two games. The Killer Lady was stunned by Empoli on Matchday 2 in a narrow 1-0 defeat on home soil. Leonardo Mancuso (21') scored the only goal of the game midway through the first half and Juventus failed to find the leveler until the end of the game. The defeat signaled the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's time in Turin and it appears his sudden departure has left the Old Lady deflated and short of potent options in attack. For his second Serie A TIM fixture in his second spell, Allegri adopted a 4—3—1—2 formation which saw the troubled American, Weston McKennie, playing behind the duo consisting of Dybala and Chiesa. But following the deadline-day acquisition of Moise Kean, Allegri could make the switch to a 4—2—3—1 formation with the 21-year-old at the top of the shape. Juventus are in 12th place, with Massimiliano Allegri yet to secure his first Serie A victory with the club since his return. In other related news, Dybala remains locked in a contract-extension dispute with the club after demanding an improved deal which could see him earn as much as €12M per season, including bonuses.