A cup under the Christmas tree. Italian football weblog 2014 is preparing to close its doors with a vibrant challenge, one Juventus-Napoli which will award the first trophy of the season. It is played at Doha (18.30 Italian time), capital of Qatar, rich state of the Arabian peninsula, which has paid well 2,5 million to host the match, a sign that, all in all, our football is still able to attract attention. Thanks also to the contenders, always able to offer a show as well as excellent players. “Anything can happen in a final – thought Massimiliano Allegri. – We have great respect for Napoli, but we can't go wrong. It's the last game of the year, the third goal of the season after the leadership in the standings and the passage to the knockout stages of the Champions League. We will try to close as best we can, we can't go wrong." A lot of energy also on the blue front: the environment feels a lot about the match and a success is almost obligatory to bring some serenity after months of storm. “It's very important for us, for the club, for the fans – admitted Rafa Benitez in the press conference. – Juve are ahead of us in the league but in the straight match other things count, such as mentality, intensity and the desire to win. We respect our opponents but we know our strengths, we only have this game in mind". Everyone wants to win, on the other hand it would be strange otherwise.
The Super Cup won't be the most important trophy but when it comes time to play it the tension rises, especially if Juventus and Napoli are up against each other. Do you remember what happened two and a half years ago in Beijing? Virtually everything happened: the Azzurri closed in fury with the referee Bergonzi, guilty of having expelled Pandev, Zuniga and Mazzarri, so much so that they didn't even show up for the awards ceremony. “It's a quiet eve, I don't want to think about that match – smiled Maggio. – I saw the group loaded and concentrated, we want to give the cup to our fans”. Benitez doesn't want to take advantage of the revenge effect but rather the great experience in the finals, as demonstrated by his career. “I don't fear his successes, I only have respect – said Allegri. – As a coach I have faced Napoli several times and with mixed results, I hope this time a victory will come”. The Juventus coach will try with the best formation, obviously net of the injuries. In defense, in front of Buffon, a 4-man line with Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini and Evra, a rhombus in midfield with Pirlo at the bottom, Pogba and Marchisio inside, Vidal as attacking midfielder. In attack, the Tevez-Llorente pairing is very confirmed, with Morata ready to start from the bench. Benitez will respond with the usual 4-2-3-1: Rafael in goal, Maggio, Albiol, Koulibaly and Ghoulam in defense, Inler and David Lopez in midfield, Callejon, Hamsik and Mertens in the trocar, Higuain in attack. And it is the Argentine striker who is Napoli's great hope, in his third participation in a Super Cup final, all against Juve. The balance, for now, is 1 victory (5-1 in 1990) and 1 defeat (4-2 in 2012): this, in short, is the "beautiful". One more reason to win it and spend a Christmas as a super champion.
