Napoli-Juventus, Kolo Muani immediately a starter? Probable formations and TV schedule

Naples, January 24, 2025 – Napoli-Juventus the 22nd day of Serie A is on fire. At the Maradona the boys of Antonio Conte are hunting for their seventh consecutive win to try to extend their lead over their pursuers. The Bianconeri disagree, 13 points behind but determined to slow down the league leaders: two consecutive wins in the championship have been missing since the beginning of November.

Previous

Juventus is both the team and won more challenges (71) is the one that has scored the most goals (227) against Napoli in Serie A – the balance is completed by 37 Neapolitan victories and 49 draws in 157 previous matches in the tournament. Napoli have won six of the last 10 matches played against Juventus in Serie A (2N, 2P): at least two more victories against the Bianconeri than any other team in the top flight since the beginning of 2020. Napoli and Juventus will face each other with the Azzurri are 13 points ahead in the standings on the Bianconeri: this is the third largest advantage in favor of the Neapolitan team in a direct confrontation between these two teams in the history of Serie A, after the two occasions in which the Campanians took to the field against Juventus with a +16 (23 April 2023 and 17 April 1988). Napoli are experiencing their record streak of home victories consecutive defeats against Juventus in Serie A (five, with an overall score of 12-4) and could become only the third team to inflict more than five consecutive defeats on the Bianconeri away from home in the history of the top flight after Roma (six between 1937 and 1941), Inter (eight between 1935 and 1943) and Fiorentina (six between 1960 and 1964).

The curiosity

Napoli have won 16 of their first 21 Serie A games this season (D2 L3) and could reach 17 wins in their first 22 games in a single top-flight campaign for only the third time in their history, after 2017/18 (when they finished in second place) and 2022/23 (when they won their last Scudetto). Juventus (W8 D13) are one of only two teams still unbeaten this season in Europe's top five leagues, along with Paris Saint-Germain (W14 D4). Furthermore, after their win against Milan, the Bianconeri could win two games in a row against teams that were in the top eight at the start of the matchday in Serie A for the first time since December 2023 (against Roma and Napoli in that case). Among Juventus coaches with at least 50 spells in charge, Conte (68%) is second only to Charles Carcano (71%) in terms of win percentage in all competitions since 1929/20, as well as being one of only six coaches to have surpassed 100 wins in black and white (102W, 34D, 15P). However, as an opponent, Juventus is the team against which the current Napoli coach has lost the most games as a coach in Serie A: four, out of six previous games (1W, 1D). The next one will be the 200th goal of his career Romelu Lukaku in the top five European leagues. The Belgian striker has already scored three goals against Juventus in all competitions, although the Bianconeri are the Serie A team against which he has suffered the most defeats (seven, in 13 matches). If he were to score in this match, Kenan Yildiz (19 years and 266 days at the date of the match) would become the third youngest foreign scorer in the matches between Napoli and Juventus in Serie A, after Marcelo Zalayeta (19 years and 99 days on March 14, 1998) and Paul Pogba (19 years and 219 days on 20 October 2012), all wearing the black and white shirt.

Conte's statements

"We need to complete a process that we started only six months ago and that we cannot consider concluded today. We need to wait and continue on this road hoping that the journey together will be as long as possible. We still lack some things, which I won't underline here, precisely because we are only at the beginning. Even if we have gone fast so far - Conte's analysis in the press conference - you can't think of getting up one day and winning. Having said that, we are working to optimize everything and bring out the best. It will be because of my experience, but I prefer to be cautious because in my opinion we are still missing some steps that perhaps, on a subjective level, other people don't see". The Italian coach rightly plays the 'fireman', but it is difficult to keep your feet on the ground when you are ahead of everyone else in the standings: Juventus included, and with a 13-point advantage. You only see this data, but it must also be said that they are undefeated and that many of their draws could have been victories. We need to take this into account and the fact that last year we finished behind them by many points and other teams that are chasing us today".

The words of Thiago Motta

"The inclusion of the two new ones is going very well - commented Thiago Motta on the eve of the duel - The group is working in the right way and we have everyone available, except for Milik, Bremer and Cabal. We are ready to play this important challenge". With a large squad and several options available, Motta highlighted the value of competition in training: "The most difficult thing is to leave a player out, because many deserve to play, but I can only send eleven onto the pitch. Internal competition is essential to raise the level of the team: in a big team like ours it is normal for there to be competition between players. With the number of games we have played and those we will face, this competition will be a stimulus for everyone to improve and always give their best". Juventus will face a Napoli that has found compactness in recent weeks: "I expect a different match compared to the first leg. Napoli has regrouped, found a lower block and it is no coincidence that they have only conceded 14 goals. However, playing at home, they will try to take control of the game. We want to play our game and attack them with balance to put them in difficulty". A key role in this Juventus is to Manuel Locatelli, who is taking on more and more responsibilities: "His character is very important, in fact he became captain naturally. On the pitch he always does essential things for the team, and for me leadership is earned with daily attitude. He has shown himself to be a point of reference. He is a player capable of interpreting different roles and, even when he plays in a position that limits him individually, he does it for the good of the team and his teammates. Never a complaint, always 200%". Motta then made an analysis of the two teams and their path this season: "I don't think our situation is similar to that of Napoli, there are many differences. I am satisfied with many things, while there are others we can improve, such as the draws that have slowed us down. We have a young team, with a lot of talent, who had to face several unexpected events such as injuries, but we always tried to overcome them with the right attitude. There were very positive performances, sometimes we managed to get the result we wanted, other times not. But we know that to win we must always try to be superior to the opponent and tomorrow we want to demonstrate it".

Probable lineups

Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Spinazzola; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Neres. Coach Conte.

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Cambiaso, Gatti, Kalulu, McKennie; Thuram, Locatelli; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; Kolo Muani. Coach Thiago Motta.

Time and where to watch the match 

Napoli-Juventus is scheduled for Saturday, January 25th, with kick-off set for 18pm. The match will be broadcast exclusively by Dazn. To follow it on TV, in addition to a subscription to the platform, you must have a smart TV on which to download the app, or you will have to connect a device such as Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or a Sky Q decoder to your television or a console such as PlayStation 4 or 5, XboX One, One S and One X. It will also be possible to follow the match in streaming, through the Dazn website or application.

The arbitrator's appointment

Daniele Chiffi of the Padua section will referee Napoli-Juventus; his assistants will be Berti and Dei Giudici, Zufferli fourth official. Paterna will be in charge of the VAR, while Mariani will be in charge of the Avar. Daniele Chiffi will be refereeing 106 matches in Serie A, the ninth in this championship. There are 11 precedents for Napoli with Daniele Chiffi refereeing the match in Serie A (9W, 2D); the last match dates back to 28 February 2024, with the away success of the Neapolitans by 6-1 against Sassuolo. There are 14 precedents for Juventus in Serie A under the direction of Daniele Chiffi, with the Bianconeri losing only once (11W, 2D) – the last match with this referee dates back to 23 November, in the 0-0 away draw against Milan.

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