Juventus will be welcoming Napoli as they make a return from the winter break on Thursday, separated by just two places and five points in the Serie A standings.
Following an intense opening to their 2021-22 season, Juventus made most of a friendly fixture list before the mid-season break by ending the year on an unbeaten run of six successive matches, conceding just twice in the process.
So far Max Allegri has not only managed to steer his side back on track in Serie A, but he also oversaw their qualification for the Champions League last 16, where they will meet Villarreal.
After the fixture with Napoli in midweek, they are set to meet Roma, Atalanta and AC Milan in the course of next month. They will also face Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia following the Supercoppa against Inter.
Juventus are sitting 12 points behind the league leader in Serie A, and they are the joint lowest-scoring team in the top half of the table, but their coach expects no major signings to be made during January due to financial restrictions at the club.
Napoli are currently third on 39 points, seven points adrift of leaders Inter Milan. Their last Serie A match saw them defeated 1-0 by Spezia at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Napoli have collected six wins, two draws and one loss on the road this season in league matches. In their last six league matches, they have won two, drawn one and lost three.
When the two sides last met in Serie A action, Napoli took a 2-1 victory at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in September. Matteo Politano opened the scoring for the Partenopei in the 57th minute. Kalidou Kuolibaly aslo scored his own. Morata scored the only goal for Juventus in the 10th minute of the match.
Juventus vs Napoli head to head
The two teams have previously met in 53 contests across all competitions, with Napoli leading with 27 victories while Napoli have won 16, and they have drawn in 10. Juventus have scored 84 goals and conceded 60. In their last five meetings, both have won two and drawn in one.
Napoli(P) 0-0 Juventus 17/06/20
Juventus 2-0 Napoli 20/01/21
Napoli 1-0 Juventus 13/02/21
Juventus 2-1 Napoli 07/04/21
Napoli 2-1 Juventus 11/09/21
Juventus latest home form
Juventus have recently been on a good form at home, as they have lost just one of their last five matches. The loss came when they were defeated 1-0 by Atalanta. They have won in all their last three matches, including a 1-0 win over Malmo in the Champions League competition.
Juventeus 1-0 Fiorentina 06/11/21
Juventus 0-1 Atalanta 27/11/21
Juventus 2-0 Genoa 05/12/21
Juventus 1-0 Malmo 08/12/21
Juventus 2-0 Cagliari 21/12/21
Juventus latest away form
Juventus have recently been on a good form on the road, having lost just once in their last five away matches, and have not lost in any of their last three. They lost 4-0 to Chelsea in the Champions League competition. They have won two and drawn one of their last three.
Lazio 0-2 Juventus 20/11/21
Chelsea 4-0 Juventus 23/11/21
Salernitana 0-2 Juventus 30/11/21
Venezia 1-1 Juventus 11/12/21
Bologna 0-2 Juventus 18/12/21
Napoli latest home form
Napoli have most recently been on a relatively poor form at home, as they have won just two of their last five matches, and they have lost their last two, to Empoli and Spezia. However, they have recently defeated Leicester City 3-2 in the Europa League competition on December 9.
Napoli 4-0 Lazio 28/11/21
Napoli 2-3 Atalanta 04/12/21
Napoli 3-2 Leicester City 09/12/21
Napoli 0-1 Empoli 12/12/21
Napoli 0-1 Spezia 22/12/21
Napoli latest away form
Napoli have failed to keep a good record on the road of late. They have recently lost 2-1 to Spartak Moscow in the Europa League, off the back of 3-2 league loss to Inter Milan. However, they have not lost in their last two away matches, which could be an upturn of form.
Legia Warsaw 1-4 Napoli 04/11/21
Inter Milan 3-2 Napoli 21/11/21
Spartak Moscow 2-1 Napoli 24/11/21
Sassuolo 2-2 Napoli 01/12/21
AC Milan 0-1 Napoli 19/12/21
Juventus news
Max Allegri will be without Giorgio Chiellini and Arthur as they are isolating with COVID-19. Reserved goalkeeper Carlo Pinsoglio is also in quarantine.
Leonardo Bonucci is doubtful due to a thigh problem and may not be risk, as Matthijs de Ligt is set to join Daniele Rugani at the heart of the hosts’ defence.
Napoli news
Napoli’s Hirving Lozano, Victor Osimhen, Eljif Elmas, Mario Rui and Kevin Malcuit have all been affected by COVID-19 and will be unavailable on Thursday.
In Osimhen’s absence, Dries Mertens is set to start up front, though Andrea Ptagna is also available to provide a more physical option against Juventus’ makeshift defence.
Prediction and Odds
The pair are two of the top three defensive sides in Serie A, and there is likely to be just a slight difference between them.
Juventus’ home advantage is likely to provide them with the motivation to put up their best quality to overcome their opponents and win the game.
Odds: 1 2.20 X 3.01 2 2.60
Probable outcomes
Juventus 1-0 Napoli
Juventus 2-0 Napoli
Juventus 2-1 Napoli
Juventus 3-2 Napoli
Juventus 2-2 Napoli
