Under whose turn it is. After the midweek round, it's time to dive into the sixth day, ready to start immediately with the main course. In fact, Juventus and Napoli will inaugurate the weekend, the "new" leaders and the "old" side by side, in strict order of classification.
The bianconeri are expected from the away match in Palermo, the blues from the home match against Chievo: moreover, both already see the next Champions League match on the horizon. On paper, the most complex game seems to be that of Napoli, forced to deal with Maran's team, the real revelation of the championship so far. Even Palermo, however, despite the obvious technical shortcomings, has finally found points and serenity, as demonstrated by the very important victory in Bergamo in the midweek. In short, it is forbidden to underestimate your opponents, otherwise you risk running into some more or less hidden trap.
“It's not the team at the start of the season, it picked up 4 points in 2 away games and will have great desire and few responsibilities – Allegri confirmed in the press conference. – It's not easy to manage these commitments also because we're traveling a lot, but we can't afford not to win otherwise we won't have given continuity to what we did against Cagliari". Just Wednesday's match demonstrated how Juve are unplayable for almost everyone, provided however that they always put maximum determination and concentration on the pitch.
The Juventus coach knows this well, which is why at Barbera he will limit the turnover to what is strictly necessary. The only big names to stay out by technical choice will be Chiellini and Dybala, both always lined up and therefore needing to catch their breath. The Argentine thus risks having to postpone the appointment with the goal again (but it is probable that he will enter the game in progress), so far escaped despite a series of excellent performances. “By now the opponents know him and make his life more difficult – thought Allegri. – But he is playing well, he just has to remain serene ”. In his place it will be Mandzukic, for the first time paired with Higuain: an unpublished product that teases and which will make the Barbera competition even more interesting. The rest of the black and white 3-5-2 will see Buffon in goal, Barzagli, Bonucci and Rugani in defense, Lichtsteiner, Khedira, Lemina, Pjanic and Alex Sandro in midfield. De Zerbi, refreshed by the victory over Atalanta, will attempt the feat with Posavec in goal, Goldaniga, Gonzalez and Andelkovic in the back, Rispoli, Gazzi, Bruno Enrique and Aleesami in the midfield, Hiljemark and Diamanti behind the lone striker Nestorovski .
In the evening it will then be Napoli's turn, awaited by the insidious match against Chievo (20.45 pm). The Venetians, as previously mentioned, are going through a moment of dazzling form: the 10 points in the standings (only 1 less than the Azzurri) make the idea better than any words. It goes without saying, however, that Sarri's men will not be able to make discounts, especially after the draw with Genoa which cost them the top of the standings, as well as a series of internal tensions that are difficult to understand.
The coach had asked De Laurentiis to raise his voice against the referees, the president replied that he didn't want alibis of any kind. Talking about chance, perhaps, would be too much, however the diversity of views remains and obliges everyone to keep their eyes peeled. A win would probably fix everything and Napoli are dying to get it. Sarri is aware of the delicacy of the match, which is why he seems oriented towards fielding the best possible formation, in defiance of any pre-Champions turnover logic. The only big player to stay out should be Mertens, otherwise the 4-3-3 order with Reina in goal, Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly and Ghoulam in defense, Allan, Jorginho and Hamsik in midfield, Callejon, Milik and Insigne in attack. Maran will hunt for the coup with the usual 4-3-1-2: Sorrentino between the posts, Cacciatore, Spolli, Dainelli and Gobbi in the back, Castro, Rigoni and Radovanovic in the midfield, Birsa in the trocar behind the duo English etching-Floro Flores.
