Successful docking. In anticipation of Saturday, Napoli regains victory and top of the standings, albeit with one game more than Juventus. While awaiting Juventus' response, however, the Azzurri can smile: the success against Chievo was essential for renewing the Scudetto ambitions, as well as for keeping Spalletti's Roma at a safe distance.
After 3 draws and many criticisms, Napoli has taken back the first place they had occupied for a long time, a logical consequence of the 3-1 victory against Chievo, who proved to be a difficult and annoying opponent. It was the yellow and blues who first unlocked the match in the 2nd minute: thanks to a great right foot from Rigoni but also, if not above all, the fault of Chiriches, unfortunate in having the ball taken away on the edge of his penalty area.
Cold shower on the San Paolo, indeed frozen, but the usual Higuain took care of bringing the temperature back to more pleasant levels. In the 6th minute Pipita turned Ghoulam's cross from the left into gold, thus reaching the dizzying number of 26 league goals. The 1-1 gave the Azzurri that necessary serenity to grind the game, which has always been the best weapon taught by Sarri. The siege on Bizzarri's goal continued unabated until the 38th minute, when Chiriches, eager to redeem the initial mistake, gave away the 2-1 with a nice header on an assist from Jorginho.
The advantage didn't change Napoli's plans, which continued to attack in the second half as well. In the 66th minute Bizzarri prevented Higuain's brace, but then, 4 minutes later, he had to surrender to Callejon's tap-in, very good at taking advantage of Allan's assist and scoring the final 3-1 goal. “I knew the team would respond well, moreover it wasn't easy to react to the initial disadvantage – commented Sarri. – We are very satisfied with the result and the performance, this time we have reaped what we sowed”.
Today it will be up to Juventus to respond, in an attempt to regain the top of the standings. The bianconeri will be looking for a success on the Atalanta field (15 pm), in a match that is fairly obvious on paper (Reja's men haven't even won since 6 December!) but not for this reason to be underestimated. In fact, last Wednesday's beating sent a loud and clear signal and this regardless of the final outcome: playing under rhythm can also be fatal for the Lady.
“The defeat against Inter was almost healthy – explained Allegri. – We came from 21 games without losing, every now and then a misstep can be all the more painless. In Bergamo it will be different, we will have to be very careful because they play well at home. We have only one result available: to win”. Almost prophetic words given that they were pronounced well before Napoli's success over Chievo.
But what happened at the San Paolo counts for little: the Juventus coach in fact knows well that this is only the beginning of the tour de force, especially as next week there will be the super challenge against Guardiola's Bayern. Juve want to get there without too many worries, that's why today, unlike Wednesday, they will take the field with the so-called "super owners". The Juventus 4-4-2 (Chiellini is unavailable) will see Buffon in goal, Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli and Evra in defence, Cuadrado, Khedira, Marchisio and Pogba in midfield, Dybala and Mandzukic in attack. Reja, who even promised a trip on foot to Gorizia in case of victory, will respond with a 3-5-1-1: Sportiello between the posts, Toloi, Masiello and Paletta in the back department, Conti, Cigarini, De Roon, Kurtic and Dramé in the midfield, Diamonds on the trocar behind the lone striker Borriello.
