Napoli and Juve are Serie A Royalty

Napoli vs Juventus

The top two teams in Italy are set to meet in a mouth-watering clash at the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday, when second placed Napoli hosts champions Juventus.

It’s the Serie A match of the weekend when these two aristocrats of the Italian game come together, and Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli will believe they have a great chance to give the Bianconeri a bloody nose.

The Old Lady has a 13 point lead at the top of Serie A and no-one here in the SBOBET Serie A pundit team is going to bet against her. But Max Allegri’s side can be beaten, and having struggled in cup competitions are in danger of having a rather tame end to their season. Maybe that’s why they will start the game as underdogs against a Napoli side with an exceptional home record.

Talking Points

Gli Azzurri is in the better form

While Juventus seems to have stuttered a little in recent weeks Ancelotti’s Napoli has been getting on with business, and will come into the game in good heart having won four and drawn two of the last six in all competitions.

Gli Azzurri had a storming 0-4 win away to Parma last week but hasn’t always been able to turn big performances against the top sides into victories, drawing 0-0 with Milan in a game they needed to win to keep pace with Juve. But Ancelotti’s side is in the last 16 of the Europa League and has a real chance of winning that competition and he has a squad of players blessed with talent and in good form.

Arkadiusz Milik currently has the best goal per minute ratio in Serie A — Arkadiusz Milik celebrates after scoring a goal against Parma

Big Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik has had his best season for some time under Ancelotti who seems to have breathed confidence into his main man up front. Milik has the best goals per minute ratio in Serie A and has bagged 16, having scored a well taken brace in the win over Parma. He has become a clinical finisher with both feet, and his height and physical presence make him an awkward customer for defences.

The talented Belgian Dries Mertens always poses a goal threat, as does the returning Lorenzo Insigne. And midfielder Piotr Zielinski has impressed this season with defensive abilities combined with a good passing game and an eye for goal. He’s sure to have a tasty midfield battle with Juve’s Blaise Matuidi

Has the Old Lady lost her Mojo?

Atletico Madrid recently inflicted a 2-0 Champions League defeat on the Bianconeri which has cast some doubt over Allegri’s team’s credentials at the very top of European football. Juventus was a serious bet to lift the European title, having come so close in recent seasons. But the league leaders have a real task on to overturn that two goal deficit against arguably the best defence in European football.

And a month ago Juventus suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Atalanta to get dumped out of the Coppa Italia. But this side is dripping with talent and they recovered from the setback against Atletico with a 1-0 win away to Bologna, thanks to a Paulo Dybala goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 19^th league goal of the season in a 3-0 win over Frosinone recently and, of course, he’s been the box office Serie A 2019 news all season. Meanwhile, Leonardo Bonucci has settled in really well at the back, in a defence which has conceded only 15 goals, the lowest in the league.

History

The Bianconeri has had the better of the head-to-heads over the years, winning 23 of the last 45 games to Napoli’s 12, while there have been ten draws. But both teams come into the game with two wins in the last four, though Napoli’s players are in the better spirits.

And why shouldn’t they be, with a mightily impressive home record of ten wins and three draws in 13 games, in which they have conceded just seven goals. In fact, Gli Azzurri hasn’t tasted defeat at the Stadio San Paulo in 23 games. But do you know what? Juventus’ away record this season reads 11 wins, one draw and no defeats.

This is going to be one heck of a game. Enjoy!

Betting Tip

	Napoli vs Juventus	Over 2.50 goals @ 2.19
	March 4, 03:30 (GMT+8)

The pre-match Napoli vs Juventus betting odds pitch the hosts as slight favourites.

Gli Azzurri is available at 2.38 with the Bianconeri at 3.00 and the draw at 3.15.

Yes, this is a meeting of the best two defences in the league, conceding just 33 goals between them, but there will also be some spectacular attacking skill on show. The Bianconeri is homing in on yet another Scudetto win, but Napoli would love nothing more than to remind the champions elect that they are not far behind in terms of ability.

I think there will be two or three goals and so I’m heading for the value side and hoping there will be a winner.