The last step before the big meeting. Juventus and Napoli are preparing to experience a passionate Wednesday, not so much for today's opponents (Crotone and Udinese) as because it will precede next Sunday's direct match. And so the points up for grabs are even heavier than usual, with both sides aware that they cannot afford mistakes of any kind.
This is especially true for the Azzurri, who in the event of a further loss of ground by the leaders could almost avoid the trip to Turin, even the Bianconeri, however, have every interest in winning to keep their lead in the standings at least unchanged. But beware of the Crotone and Udinese traps: teams in difficulty and much inferior on a technical level but hungry for points and ready to sell their skin dearly.
"I think this match is the most important of the week - said Allegri - Reaching the direct match with a 6-point lead would be a good sign, I've been hearing about the Scudetto since Sunday but I won't do it until the mathematics. Crotone are doing well and have achieved most of their results at home, we will have to be patient and not fall into the trap of their counterattacks".
The Juventus coach doesn't want to expose himself but he knows, in his heart, how the goal is really close. The frenetic pace of his team (15 wins and a draw in the last 16 games) and the concomitant decline of Napoli (only two wins in the last 6, against a defeat and 3 draws) made the seventh consecutive Scudetto much more than a dream , yet the party is still missing some pieces.
At Juve they want to end the game as soon as possible, otherwise they risk complicating their lives in a season finale that includes away games with Inter and Roma, so winning in Crotone is considered an essential step. Allegri will still manage his forces in view of the match against Napoli, so at Scida we will see a slightly different 4-3-2-1 than usual with Szczesny in goal, Lichtsteiner, Benatia, Rugani and Alex Sandro in defence, Marchisio, Bentancur and Matuidi in midfield, Dybala and Douglas Costa behind Higuain, on the pitch from the first minute despite the warning.
Zenga will try to disrupt the leaders with a 4-3-3 that will see Cordaz between the posts, Faraoni, Ceccherini, Capuano and Martella in the back, Mandragora, Barberis and Stoian in the midfield, Trotta, Simy and Ricci in the offensive trident.
On the Scida there will also be the "virtual" eyes of Napoli, in the hope that Juve can lose some points. But be careful not to underestimate Udinese, otherwise any discussion would be closed regardless. The Friulians, returning from 9 consecutive defeats, would seem to be ideal for restoring a bit of polish to the Azzurri, decidedly gray in the last period which has seen only two victories, however very painful, with Genoa and Chievo.
Sarri knows that failing again tonight would make the match in Turin useless and absolutely wants to avoid it, so he will minimize the turnover by fielding a 4-3-3 with Reina in goal, Hysaj, Albiol, Tonelli (Koulibaly is disqualified) and Mario Rui in defense , Allan, Jorginho and Hamsik in midfield, Callejon, Milik (favorite over Mertens) and Insigne in attack.
Oddo, loudly contested by the Friuli squad for the 9 consecutive defeats (!) that dragged him into the safety zone, will respond with a 3-5-2 with Bizzarri between the posts, Nuytinck, Danilo and Samir in the back, Widmer, Barak, Balic, Ingelsson and Adnan in the midfield, Maxi Lopez and Perica in attack.
