Napoli vs Juventus
The 2021/22 Serie A favourites head to the Stadio Diego Maradona in Naples on Saturday as Juventus face Napoli in one of Europe’s big games of the weekend.
While Max Allegri’s Bianconeri are marginal favourites to regain the Scudetto, Napoli have made a better start to the campaign and are at lower odds to win this clash, a result which will strengthen Azzurri coach Luciano Spalletti’s resolve, as well as heaping more pressure on his counterpart in Turin as Allegri searches for his first win of the season.
The hosts return to Naples on the back of a 1-2 victory in Genoa while Juventus had a shock defeat at home to newly-promoted Empoli. So it’s fifth versus 12th in the Serie A table and a home win will take Napoli into the top four while making matters even worse for their visitors.
Talking Points
Napoli aiming for revenge
Gli Azzurri were so close to winning a Champions League place in 2021, but they dropped out of the top four on the very last day as Juventus crept in to claim the final qualifying place. It was a disappointing end to a brilliant second half of the campaign, and Napoli have lost just two of their last 26 games in all competitions. A win over Juventus would elevate the Azzurri higher as current leaders Lazio host AC Milan this weekend, and with victories over Genoa and Venezia already in the bag Spalletti’s men will be confident of making it three in three.
The current Serie A 2021 betting odds place Napoli as sixth favourites to win the Scudetto with odds of 14.00, a price which means they are outsiders, but serious contenders. Juventus are still favourites for the title at odds of 2.60 but, with 2021 champions Inter Milan at 2.98, the margin is fine and if the Azzurri are able to pick off their visitors then fans at the San Siro will be delighted.
Spalletti certainly has high hopes of improving on last season’s fifth-place finish and the early season form of Lorenzo Insigne gives Napoli fans reason for optimism. The skipper had a superb Euro 2020, scoring against Turkey and a screamer against highly fancied Belgium, and he will be one of Serie A’s top players again. The hosts have two key players missing, with Piotr Zielinski and Dries Mertens both injured and so Fabian Ruiz and Matteo Politano are set to continue.
Juventus looking for Chiesa to step up
The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United dominated the Serie A 2021 news and Juventus are clearly going through a rebuilding phase after finishing fourth last term, ending a run of nine successive Scudettos. Argentine striker Paulo Dybala has taken over the captain’s armband and the centre forward position, and he was on target as Juventus won a point in a 2-2 daw with Udinese, as was wide man Juan Cuadrado. But Federico Chiesa who, like Insigne, impressed at Euro 2020, has not started as well and he needs to fulfil his undoubted potential if Juventus are to regain the Scudetto. The Old Lady has already dropped five points over the opening two games, losing at home to Empoli after the draw away to Udinese, and the visitors have two midfield players missing, in Aaron Ramsay and Rodrigo Bentancur.
On loan stars Manuel Locatelli and Alvaro Morata could both be in contention as Allegri searches for the winning combination.
History
Juventus have had the better of the head to head meetings, winning 27 of the 52 games played against Napoli since 1993, while Gli Azzurri have won 15 and drawn ten.
The last six games have all gone with the home side, three victories each. Napoli won 1-0 in Naples and then Juventus exacted their revenge in Turin as Ronaldo and Dybala gave them a two-goal lead, before Insigne scored a late consolation from the penalty spot.
While Napoli come into the game in better form, Juventus are unbeaten in six matches away from home.
Betting Tip
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Napoli vs Juventus | 1X2 Draw @ 3.10 |
| September 12, 00:00 (GMT+8) |
Napoli are at SBOTOP odds of 2.32, favourites to win this game, against the team accustomed to being the top dog for so long. I Bianconeri is at 2.92 to win and while they have a nice unbeaten run away from home I think Napoli should certainly get something from the game.
For an alternative bet, Napoli 1×2 Draw No Bet, is at odds of 1.77 but I’m settling on the draw in an entertaining end-to-end game.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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