Socrates

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato HT: Cavani shakes up Juve but it's still 0-0 Oct 20, 2012 It’s still goalless at half-time in the Juventus-Napoli top of the table clash, but Edinson Cavani rattled the crossbar. This was a huge Scudetto showdown between the joint Serie A leaders who were both still unbeaten. They had already faced off in recent months for the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup, winning one each amid controversy and tension that still dragged on. Assistant manager Angelo Alessio returned to the bench after his ban was cut on appeal. Gianluigi Buffon and Mirko Vucinic were out after picking up a thigh strain and flu on international duty, so Marco Storari, Sebastian Giovinco and Neapolitan Fabio Quagliarella started. The Partenopei were only missing Miguel Angel Britos, as Edinson Cavani was fit to start despite missing his flight back from Uruguay. The first save was after 58 seconds when Morgan De Sanctis got down to parry a Sebastian Giovinco angled drive. There was confusion between Hugo Campagnaro and De Sanctis, but they just about managed to scramble clear as Giovinco dived in. Moments later Napoli went on the counter and Juan Camilo Zuniga hit a fresh-air volley inside the box. During that move, Leonardo Bonucci was stretchered off with a left knee problem, but was able to continue after treatment. Napoli went incredibly close on 26 minutes after Arturo Vidal tripped Gokhan Inler right on the outside edge of the box. Cavani tried to curl it directly from an improbable angle and was very unlucky, as the ball clipped the far top corner of the woodwork. It would’ve been a sensational strike. De Sanctis smothered a Kwadwo Asamoah cross-shot after he surged past Christian Maggio. In first half stoppages, a deflected Claudio Marchisio screamer from the D was fingertipped out from under the bar by De Sanctis. Napoli went on the counter and Andrea Barzagli sprinted down the other end to stop Maggio. Giovinco just failed to get his stretched foot to the long ball with De Sanctis off his line. Juventus 0-0 Napoli (Half-Time) Juventus: Storari; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Marchisio, Pirlo, Vidal, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Giovinco Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Gamberini; Maggio, Inler, Behrami, Zuniga; Hamsik; Pandev, Cavani Ref: Damato http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Che belli i tifosi azzurri ....

Quello che hai nel tuo avatar (di qualche anno fa) sarebbe ottimo.

Marotta: 'Buffon criticism untrue' Oct 20, 2012 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta told off critics who thought Gigi Buffon was faking his injury on international duty. There were rumours the goalkeeper had pulled out of the World Cup qualifier with Denmark in order to preserve himself for today’s Juve-Napoli showdown, but in truth the thigh strain has ruled him out of this game too. “The truth shows that the criticism on Buffon was incorrect. Wearing the Azzurri jersey must be a source of pride for everyone and so it happens to risk playing even when not at full fitness,” Marotta told Sky Sport Italia. “Andrea Pirlo is in good shape and knows how to control his energy levels. He is one of those who moves the most on the pitch, even if he uses his brain more than his legs, so perhaps that helps him become less fatigued.” The Bianconeri director joined forces with Udinese Coach Francesco Guidolin in urging a change to the Serie A system. “We are all in favour of our players going on international duty, but the format ought to be revamped and return Serie A to 18 teams.” Marotta was at the Juventus Stadium ahead of today’s top of the table battle with Napoli. “There are two great Coaches who are doing good work for Italian football. Angelo Alessio is now available for the touchline after his ban was cut on appeal, so Massimo Carrera returns to an assistant role.”

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato Line-ups: Juventus-Napoli Oct 20, 2012 It’s the top of the table clash in Turin as Juventus start with Marco Storari, Sebastian Giovinco and Fabio Quagliarella against Napoli’s Edinson Cavani, Goran Pandev and Marek Hamsik. These two sides are joint Serie A leaders going into the 17.00 UK time kick-off, which you can watch LIVE on your computer. They already went head-to-head in the Coppa Italia Final in May and the fiery Italian Super Cup in Beijing in August. Juve have to do without Gianluigi Buffon, Mirko Vucinic, Paolo De Ceglie and Simone Pepe. Buffon picked up a thigh injury on international duty, while Vucinic is debilitated by a bout of flu. Giovinco has been picked as the partner to Neapolitan Quagliarella, leaving Alessandro Matri on the bench. Napoli can rely on their Three Tenors, as Cavani is fit to start despite a delayed return journey from Uruguay that means he only had one training session with the club. Pandev is his strike partner with Hamsik in a slightly deeper role, so Lorenzo Insigne is on the bench after his stunning goal for the Under-21 side this week. Miguel Angel Britos is the only injury absentee in defence. Juventus have assistant manager Angelo Alessio back on the bench after his ban in the betting scandal was reduced on appeal, but Antonio Conte is still in the stands. There are already reports of trouble in the build-up to the game, as a group of Napoli supporters from Parma claim their bus was attacked at a motorway service station. Juventus: Storari; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Marchisio, Pirlo, Vidal, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Giovinco Juventus bench: Rubinho, Branescu, Lucio, Caceres, Isla, Marrone, Pogba, Padoin, Giaccherini, Bendtner, Matri Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Gamberini; Maggio, Inler, Behrami, Zuniga; Hamsik; Pandev, Cavani Napoli bench: Rosati, Grava, Fernandez, Aronica, Uvini, Mesto, Dzemaili, Donadel, Dossena, Insigne, Vargas http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato Juventus v Napoli – Four Battles That Could Decide The Tie Oct 20, 2012 It’s been hyped as the biggest and the most important clash of the season so far. Juventus host Napoli at the Juventus Stadium as Serie A’s top two lock-horns. It is too soon to call it a title decider as we’re still only in October but it does pit two front-runners against each other. Two teams with identical records and with similar goals this season. Napoli, realistically, remain the only Serie A outfit capable of halting this Juventus juggernaut. They are, in fact, the only side to have ever gotten the better of Juventus since Antonio Conte took charge last season. A win here for them will be a statement of intent to the rest of Serie A. We take a look at few of the battles that could very well decide the victors on the night. Andrea Pirlo vs Marek Hamsik Pirlo, needs no introduction. His passing range is second to none and artistry with the ball that would make Michelangelo smile. Indeed, Pirlo is the fulcrum and heart-beat of this Juventus side. Everything stems from the feet of the maestro and a huge part of their game revolves around the thinking and imagination of the Italian International. Pirlo’s influence on the game cannot be neglected, doing so would be suicide. Marek Hamsik is one of the most in-form midfielders in the peninsula right now. He has certainly risen to the occasion following Lavezzi’s departure. The Argentine’s sale has triggered a new mature Hamsik that has thrived in his free role at the club. Hamsik has found more space and has been given the license by Mazzarri to roam around the pitch. On Saturday though, he might be asked to ‘do a job’ on Andrea Pirlo and escort him around the pitch but not in an entirely generous manner. Hamsik will be Pirlo’s shadow, hounding him and offering him no room to breathe. This could go a long way in shackling Pirlo and indeed Juventus. On the other hand, given Napoli’s penchant for swift counter-attacking football, Hamsik could burst through the middle and ghost past Pirlo, whose lack of pace has been well documented. This will make for one fascinating battle. Kwadwo Asamoah vs Christian Maggio For two sides that play with a three-man defense, width is always important; the full-backs involved need to contribute steadily at both ends of the pitch. In Asamoah and Maggio, Juventus and Napoli possess two frightening prospects. Asamoah has seamlessly been drafted into this Juventus side and scored one of the goals in the SuperCoppa with his hammer of a left-foot. Asamoah has been one of the stars of Juventus’ season thus far with 3 assists and a goal to his name. His transition from a central midfielder to left full-back has been made with consummate ease. He will go head on against Napoli’s steam-roller, Christian Maggio. The former Sampdoria man doesn’t receive the same kind of attention that the Partenopei’s attacking trident do, but he is just as important to Mazzarri’s philosophy. Maggio has the pace and ability to dominate that right flank, delivering crosses that Cavani feasts on. His tussle with Asamoah will make for an intriguing contest. Juventus Defense vs Edinson Cavani Without a shadow of a doubt, Edinson Cavani is the most lethal attacker in Italy. The Uruguayan has all the ingredients of a modern and perfect centre forward. Strong in the air, excellent finisher, blistering pace with a work-rate that is admirable, Cavani is every managers dream striker. With 6 goals, he leads the Capocannoniere charts and his threat is something Juventus will be weary of. Cavani’s record against the Bianconeri should be cause for concern for Antonio Conte’s men but questions may be raised over his fitness and there is a general air of worry surrounding his late arrival from South America. While Juventus’ three man back-line were solid and dependable last season, they have been rather shaky this term. They no longer offer the same kind of confidence that saw them concede the fewest amount of goals in Europe last season. Leonardo Bonucci has improved since his Bari days but he still is prone to moments of madness in the heart of the defense. While Andrea Barzagli, who had an impeccable 2011-2012 campaign, has been found wanting at times this season and has looked far from being assured at the back. Giorgio Chiellini though has been the most impressive performer at the back and remains a stalwart for Juventus. His tough-tackling, no nonsense style is right out of the Italian guide to defending, an old-school warrior. Should Cavani manage to exploit the lack of pace in Juve’s back-line, he could cause a few headaches for the Juventus defense which does miss one of its most vital elements in Gigi Buffon. Antonio Conte vs Walter Mazzarri Conte and Mazzarri are two coaches with different approaches and different footballing philosophies. The Juventus manager is a firm believer in possession based football whose sides try to carve out openings with patience. Mazzarri has built a team that quite possibly is the most deadly counter-attacking side in Europe. A team that is comfortable sitting back, allowing the opposition possession and then attacking at break-neck speeds with efficiency. It will be interesting to see how the teams line-up with regard to the tactical set-up employed by their managers. Both managers favor a three man defense, so width generated from the full-backs remains essential. Mazzarri has stated that he won’t be content with just a draw and that his side will be aiming to come away with all the three points in an intimidating stadium. Conte’s Juventus don’t play for draws and already have that winning mentality instilled in them. The clash between these two managers will make for a captivating duel with contrasting styles of football but with a similar objectives – three points and top spot. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Juventus never approached Mazzarri, insists Moggi The Partenopei coach was linked with the vacant managerial post in Turin last year following Luigi Del Neri's exit, but the former director has poured scorn on those rumours. Oct 20, 2012 Luciano Moggi has stoked the fires ahead of Juventus' Serie A clash with Napoli on Saturday by stating that Walter Mazzarri was never considered by his old club. The 51-year-old coach shot to prominence at the end of the 2010-11 campaign after leading the Partenopei to third place in the Italian top flight and Champions League football the following season. His exploits sparked rumours that he was in the running to replace sacked Bianconeri boss Luigi Del Neri but, according to the former director, this was not the case as Antonio Conte eventually took on the vacancy. "It was Mazzarri looking for Juve and not vice versa," Moggi told Radio Mana Mana Sport. "I know for a fact that Juventus have never thought of hiring Walter Mazzarri, but rather he was the one to have proposed to them before the appointment of Antonio Conte."

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato Carrera: Juventus more attacking than Napoli The 48-year-old feels the reigning champions look to dominate play more than the Partenopei, but believes that Walter Mazzarri's side are more than capable of winning the Scudetto. Oct 20, 2012 Massimo Carrera has voiced his opinion that Juventus play more attacking football than Napoli as the Partenopei try to hit their opponents on the counterattack rather than dictate play themselves. Both sides are level on points at the top of the Serie A table, but the stand-in trainer believes Saturday's encounter in Turin will not be decisive in the title race. "Both teams line up with 3-5-2 systems, but we aim for a more offensive game," he stated at a press conference. "They have a greater reliance on counterattacks and individual moments of skill. We’ll look to dictate the play, but need to be smart to try and halt their counterattacks. "There’s still a long way to go in the championship and many other sides can enter the reckoning. It’s understandable that Napoli are aiming for the Scudetto - they've got everything in place to do so." Juventus recorded a 4-2 win after extra-time when they met Napoli for the Supercoppa Italiana earlier this season. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato Nedved: Juve & Napoli two of the best teams in Italy The former Czech Republic international is looking forward to this weekend's league match, and is hoping for an entertaining encounter. Oct 20, 2012 Pavel Nedved is eagerly anticipating Saturday's Serie A encounter between Juventus and Napoli, and feels the two sides are among the best that Italy has to offer. The Czech star midfielder has stressed that the match in Turin will not be decisive in the title race just yet, and hops that the recent internationals will not affect the game negatively. "It’s still too early to be a decisive game. But it will be a great encounter contested between two of the best teams in Italy," he was quoted as saying on the official Juventus website. "It’s not a battle between [Antonio] Conte and [Walter] Mazzarri, it’s a meeting of two great teams, led by two great coaches. "I can't wait for the game. I hope it will be an enjoyable encounter in spite of the inevitable tiredness of the many players who have been on international duty. "Between them Juventus and Napoli had a total of around 30 players on their travels and each and every one of them will have been focused on performing for their respective nations." Juve and Napoli currently sit joint first in the Serie A table with 19 points from seven games. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Bonucci punched armed mugger! Oct 20, 2012 There are reports Juventus and Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci escaped unharmed by punching an armed mugger. The player was leaving a Ferrari dealership in Turin on Thursday with his wife and baby when he was confronted by a man who pointed a gun in his face and demanded he hand over his watch. According to the report in La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, Bonucci stayed perfectly still and the mugger grabbed his wrist, but the player spotted an opening and punched the attacker with his free hand. The mugger then ran away to his accomplice on a nearby moped with Bonucci chasing on foot for a brief period. The Italian international has reported the matter to police.

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato Cannavaro: 'Juve-Napoli spark...' Oct 20, 2012 Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro hopes today’s top of the table clash with Juventus “can set off that extra spark within us.” They are joint Serie A leaders going into the 17.00 UK time kick-off, which you can watch LIVE on your computer. “Is it a Scudetto showdown? I hope that it can become that over time. At the moment it is a challenge between the top two teams in the table,” Cannavaro told Sky Sport Italia. “It is a very important match indeed, but in any case will not be decisive for the title. “Perhaps it can set off that extra spark within us, that renewed awareness of our own potential. After all, Juventus dominated last season and ended unbeaten, so the statistics suggest they are the favourites.” The defender also sees a crucial role at Napoli for Coach Walter Mazzarri and President Aurelio De Laurentiis. “The President is like a father who intervenes at the right time and knows when to praise you without letting it get to your head. His interventions are always targeted and useful. “I have never had confusion over anything the Coach has said. When a Coach tells you the truth, you learn to appreciate him. Right now I believe Mazzarri to be among the top tacticians in circulation.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Del Bosque: 'Ballon d'Or to Pirlo' Oct 20, 2012 Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque fought him twice this summer and believes “Andrea Pirlo could well win the Ballon d’Or.” The veteran midfielder is among the candidates for the trophy after a remarkable campaign that saw Italy reach the Euro 2012 Final and Juventus end the season unbeaten in Serie A. “Yes, Pirlo could well win the Ballon d’Or,” Del Bosque told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “He is a complete footballer, capable of creating the play and finishing it off. Admittedly, though, I hope the prize goes to a Spanish player.” The World and European champion also commented on today’s hotly-anticipated Juventus-Napoli clash. “These are the two teams who play the best football in Italy. If they give us a great match, then it’d be a wonderful calling card for Serie A.”

Del Bosque tips Andrea Pirlo for Ballon d'Or The Spain coach has tipped the Italian to pick up the award in January, but added competition for the honour is heavy. Oct 20, 2012 Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has lauded Italy and Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, and added that the playmaker could pip some of his side's stars to the Ballon d'Or this January. The Azzurri fell to a 4-0 loss to Spain in the European Cup final this summer, but the 33-year-old remains widely-regarded as one of the best in his position after some stellar performances at the tournament. Del Bosque has now voiced his admiration of the former AC Milan man, but added he hopes a compatriot picks up the award on which he places 'little' value. "Pirlo, could win the Ballon d'Or. He is among the candidates," the 61-year old told reporters. "He is a complete player, able to build the game and finish it." "Even though I think very little about this award, I hope it goes to a Spaniard. Andres Iniesta? He's not the only one. "The competition is strong, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Radamel Falcao..."

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato Buffon and Vucinic ruled out of Napoli clash The Serie A champions confirmed on their website that two of their key men will not be fit for the crunch game in Turin, although Claudio Marchisio could feature. Oct 20, 2012 Juventus will be without Gianluigi Buffon and Mirko Vucinic for Saturday's crucial match with Napoli. Buffon has failed to recover from a thigh injury sustained during Italy's World Cup qualifying win over Armenia, while Montenegro attacker Vucinic is suffering from a bout of flu. There is some good news for the Bianconeri, however, with midfielder Claudio Marchisio set to play after recovering from a shoulder problem, while Leonardo Bonucci returns from suspension for the top-of-the-table clash. Meanwhile, the agent of veteran keeper Buffon has confirmed that there is still no progress to report on the 34-year-old's contract extension at Juventus Stadium. "For the moment there is no need to talk about it. These are delicate things, however, at the right time [we] will come out of it all," Silvano Martina told tuttojuve.com. Martina also revealed he is expecting a tight game on Saturday, but insists it will not prove to be decisive in the title race. "At this time Juve is the defending champion and is proving to be the strongest in Italy. Napoli, on the other hand, has grown a lot and is the main antagonist in the Scudetto," he continued. "I expect a very good game; however, as the race for the championship, it comes much too early to be decisive." Martina also insists that the international commitments of players has an impact on all the top clubs, and so he does not envisage it causing a problem for the clash this weekend. "Now for all clubs it is so," he added. "Having players around Europe or returning from South America affects us all, not only one of the two clubs, so I do not think it will particularly affect the performance of game. " http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato Chiellini: 'Is this a title decider?' Oct 20, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini insists it is “too early to say whether this can be a Scudetto showdown” as joint leaders Juventus and Napoli face off this afternoon. The big match at the Juventus Stadium kicks off at 17.00 BST and you can watch LIVE on your computer. “It is too early to say whether this can be a Scudetto showdown,” Bianconeri defender Chiellini told Sky Sport Italia. “We are only in Week 8 and there are other teams who cannot be ruled out after so few games. I find it absurd. “It is true that a victory would send a signal to the whole of Serie A, both if Juve were to win and if Napoli got the result. “At the same time, I think both teams are mature and experienced enough to keep their balance regardless of what happens.” The two giants already did battle in recent months for the Coppa Italia Final and the Italian Super Cup, winning one each. They are level on top of the table with 19 points each, already four in front of the chasing pack, and remain unbeaten this season in Serie A. Juve have injury problems for this huge encounter, as Gigi Buffon and Mirko Vucinic are ruled out by thigh and flu problems respectively. Assistant manager Angelo Alessio returns after his ban expired, but Coach Antonio Conte is still in the stands due to the betting scandal. “Conte gave us back belief in ourselves and made us believe it was possible to dream. Above all, he taught us a great deal and in the last year everyone stepped up a notch in quality. That allowed us to win.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Napoli trema!

Il nero é il colore del lutto .... per il defunto Napoli.

Minuto di silenzio per ricordare Helmut Haller, grande campione della Juve (e della Germania Ovest) degli anni '70.

Sta litigando con i vicini di casa ....

Chi ce l'ha me lo manda in MP? .... (anche uno non con Zuliani va bene lo stesso).

Serie A - 8^ Giornata - Andata - 20-10-2012 (ore 18:00) - Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro: Antonio Damato Juventus-Napoli, le formazioni ufficiali: Cavani dal 1', c'è Storari tra i pali bianconeri Buffon e Vucinic out per i padroni di casa, in campo Quagliarella e Giovinco. Insigne parte dalla panchina per gli azzurri, Pandev e Behrami titolari. Oct 20, 2012 Sono state appena diramate la formazioni ufficiali di Juventus-Napoli, primo anticipo dell'ottava giornata di Serie A 2012/2013. Sfida tra le due capoliste del campionato, tra rientri all'ultimo secondo e forfait che hanno sconvolto i piani. Conte, Carrera e Alessio devono fare a meno di Buffon e Vucinic, non convocati: al loro posto in campo Storari e Fabio Quagliarella. Centrocampo confermato, Pogba e Matri partono dalla panchina. Mazzarri risponde con Cavani titolare nonostante la settimana fatta di voli stra-chilometrici: insieme a lui Pandev e Cavani, a centrocampo c'è Behrami. Lorenzo Insigne parte dalla panchina. Eccole di seguito: JUVENTUS (3-5-2): Storari; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Giovinco. A disposizione: Rubinho, Branescu, Lucio, Caceres, Marrone, Pogba, Padoin, Isla, Giaccherini, Matri, Bendtner. All: Alessio. NAPOLI (3-4-1-2): De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Gamberini; Maggio, Inler, Behrami, Zuniga; Hamsik; Pandev, Cavani. A disposizione: Rosati, Colombo, Grava, Aronica, Uvini, Fernandez, Mesto, Dzemaili, Donadel, Dossena, Insigne, Vargas. All: Mazzarri

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato The Big Match Tactical View: Juventus v Napoli Juventus have a long unbeaten record to protect, while Napoli struggle away from home against the big boys - can Walter Mazzarri's side pull off a shock victory? Oct 19, 2012 Match Odds: Juventus 1.79, Napoli 5.0, The Draw 3.9. It's impossible to consider Napoli's chances of winning this match without recalling their dreadful record away top 5 clubs in the past couple of seasons - they've collected just two points and conceded 18 goals in those eight games. We also have to bear in mind that Juventus are unbeaten in 46 league games, and are yet to lose at their new stadium. Yet Juve have recently lost to Napoli - in the Coppa Italia final back in May, when Walter Mazzarri recorded a 2-0 victory over Antonio Conte thanks to an Edinson Cavani penalty and a Marek Hamsik breakaway goal. The subsequent 4-2 Supercoppa debate was followed by Napoli complaints about controversial refereeing decisions - this now feels like a proper rivalry, and with both sides on 19 points from a possible 21 at the top of the table, this is a huge game. Tactically, it should be fascinating. 3-5-2 is now Juventus' default shape, but Conte originally started using that formation exclusively against other sides who played three at the back - primarily Udinese and Napoli. "All teams who play 3-5-2 cause us problems," admits Mazzarri - so it's difficult to see Conte choosing any other system. Conte is a big admirer of Christian Maggio, Napoli's right-wing-back, and his decision to change formation last year was partly to get a player tracking him up and down the line. Marcelo Estigarribia wasn't good enough defensively to stop him at the San Paolo, but Paolo De Ceglie did a good job in Turin and he could start ahead of Kwadwo Asamoah here. On the other side, Stephane Lichtsteiner is a better player than Juan Zuniga, and will force the Colombian back towards his own goal. In the centre of midfield, there should be a frantic two-versus-two clash - Gokhan Inler and Valon Behrami against Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal. All are mobile, combative and feisty - this will be a tremendous battle. More crucial, however, is the contest between Juvents' deep-lying playmaker Andrea Pirlo and Napoli attacking midfielder Hamsik. The Slovakian successfully nullified Pirlo last season, although at the expense of his own attacking ability - he needs to stop Pirlo playing forward passes, but then storm forward on the break, turning Juve's probable three-versus-two advantage at the back into a more dangerous three-versus-three. Mazzarri rarely makes surprise selection decisions - a minor change in defence might be on the cards, but that's about it - but Conte's selection upfront is unknown. So far this season he's favoured Sebastian Giovinco behind Mirko Vucinic, but reports from Italy suggest he'll favour a combination of Alessandro Matri and Naples-born Fabio Quagliarella. If I were Conte, I'd go for Matri to hold the ball up and occupy the Napoli centre-backs, then tell Giovinco to float around in the hole just behind, taking advantage of the fact neither Inler nor Behrami are natural holders, and will be drawn higher up into a midfield battle. The game's star player is Cavani - likely to be fielded upfront with support from Goran Pandev to his right. Cavani has a decent record against Juventus and, will hope Maggio and Zuniga get forward and supply him with crosses. There have been 24 goals in the last six games between these sides in all competitions, and it's unusual - but right in this case - to see Over 2.5 goals at 1.86 in a match between Serie A's top two. Still, I don't see a great deal of value in that market. Instead, I like the look of a sending-off at around 3.6, primarily because of the aforementioned midfield battle - but also because of the past refereeing controversies, which will make this a tempestuous encounter. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato Juventus v Napoli: Preview Oct 19, 2012 Juventus coach Massimo Carrera says goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is touch and go as to whether he will be fit to face Napoli in their top of the table clash tomorrow. Both sides have 19 points with six wins and a draw from their seven Serie A matches and Carrera is unsure whether his number one will recover from a thigh injury in time for the match at the Juventus Stadium. "We will have to evaluate Gigi's condition after our final training session,'' he said. "It will be up to him to tell us whether he can play or not. "Many clubs have players who have come back from international duty with knocks, but Juve are not a club who go around crying.'' Carrera has guided Juventus to an unbeaten start to the Serie A season but assistant manager Angelo Alessio will take charge in the absence of manager Antonio Conte for the next few months. Conte's suspension for his part in a match-fixing scandal has been shortened to six months, allowing him to return in December, while Alessio, who was also banned, is now free to work again after a successful appeal. That means Carrera, who has been in charge since Juventus defeated Napoli in the Supercoppa, goes back to being a regular part of the backroom staff. "Alessio will be back because there is a hierarchy to be respected,'' said Carrera, whose record in charge of the Bianconeri makes for positive reading with eight wins and two draws. "Angelo is Conte's first assistant, I am just a technical assistant. I know what my role is. "I took his place, but now I go back to doing my job with maximum respect. I am happy to be part of Antonio's backroom staff.'' Napoli's preparations for tomorrow's game have been complicated by the late return of Edinson Cavani from international duty. Due to a delayed flight from South America, he missed a connection and only set foot back on Italian soil this morning. "I don't care at all about the delay, I base my decisions on the players I have got and our opponents and I will try to pick the best team I can to face Juve,'' said Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri. "I saw Cavani today and he looked well. I will evaluate them all tomorrow and choose the right team then." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato MATCH PREVIEW Oct 19, 2012 Juventus and Napoli refuse to acknowledge it as such, but this top of the table clash is being described as an early Scudetto decider. Juventus made it six wins from seven with a nervy victory in Siena a fortnight ago. Claudio Marchisio broke the deadlock with five minutes remaining, after Andrea Pirlo’s early free kick was cancelled out on the stroke of half time. That propelled Juve to 19 points and a place atop Serie A on goal difference. After a recent schedule which included Champions League action plus matches with Fiorentina and Roma, stand-in Coach Massimo Carrera admitted the Old Lady lacked sharpness and determination in Tuscany. The break came at the right time, although with 16 of 25 squad members on international duty it did not allow for much rest. It is something Juve will have to come to grips with over the upcoming weeks. After missing Italy’s win over Denmark on Tuesday, Gianluigi Buffon is a doubt to feature. Marco Storari is on standby. Mirko Vucinic returned from international duty sick, meaning Alessandro Matri may be fielded from the opening whistle. Marchisio went off injured in Milan but is expected to start. Simone Pepe remains on the road to recovery, Napoli have been dubbed this term’s ‘anti-Juve’ - the side most likely to challenge the Bianconeri. So far so good on that front for the Partenopei, who claimed a 2-1 win over Udinese last time out to sit equal first. Even Juve midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini admits Napoli are in better shape currently, however he says it remains to be seen whether they can keep pace with the champions. The Azzurri are raring to go and Walter Mazzarri stresses his side “will not be happy with a draw” in Turin. While he is aiming for victory the tactician does not believe much can be concluded from a Round 8 contest – something also noted by Bianconeri players. Goran Pandev has brought up the bitterness of August’s 4-2 Super Cup defeat, but Mazzarri is purely concerned with toppling Juve this weekend. Napoli will assess the condition of Miguel Britos ahead of the trip, with the Uruguayan the only player in doubt for the clash. Edinson Cavani will hope to shake off the effects of jet lag after a long journey home following Uruguay’s 4-1 defeat in Bolivia. Juve were dominant in a 3-0 win last season, continuing their strong record at home against Napoli. In 67 past encounters they have won 40 and lost on just seven occasions. Keep an eye on: Paolo Cannavaro (Napoli) – The Neapolitan is raring to go against the Azzurri’s old rivals. As captain he will look to lead by example at the back, where he forms part of Serie A’s meanest defence, who are up against Serie A’s best attack. Form guide: Juventus (W W D W W) Napoli (W D W W W) Last season: Juventus 3-0 Napoli Stat fact: Napoli will need to turnaround a poor recent record in Turin to claim top spot outright. They have won just once since a memorable triumph in 1988-89 - a 3-2 victory 20 years later. Juventus: Storari; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Matri Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Gamberini; Maggio, Inler, Behrami, Zuniga; Hamsik; Pandev, Cavani http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Antonio Damato Juventus - Napoli Preview: Expect fireworks in this top-of-the-table Serie A clash The Partenopei would love nothing better than to end the Bianconeri's unbeaten record, but Antonio Conte's will be equally motivated on Saturday. Oct 19, 2012 PROBABLE LINE-UPS JUVENTUSStorari Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah Giovinco, Matri NAPOLI De Sanctis Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Gamberini Maggio, Inler, Behrami, Zuniga Hamsik Pandev, Cavani If there was not enough of an incentive for Napoli to attempt end Juventus' unbeaten record this season already, then perhaps the fact that the last time these two sides met, it ended in controversy with the Azzurri having two men sent off and their coach Walter Mazzarri was dismissed for dissent in a fiery encounter in the Supercoppa Italiana back in August. And if this 4-2 defeat they suffered did have any effect on the Partenopei, then based on results this season in Serie A, it has only made them more determined to do well as they have started their first seven games undefeated, setting up this top-of-the-table-clash with Juventus. The Bianconeri, meanwhile, are looking to make it a staggering 47 league games unbeaten, but will have to make do without the services of the ever-reliable Gianluigi Buffon who picked up a thigh injury in Italy's victory over Armenia last Friday. Another doubt for Antonio Conte's men is Claudio Marchisio who sustained a shoulder problem, though, he is expected to be available with Emanuele Giaccherini waiting in the wings. The two players who received their matching orders in the last match, Napoli duo Goran Pandev and Juan Zuniga, will be looking to make amends at Juventus Stadium on Saturday with coach Mazzarri having a fully fit squad to choose from. But all eyes will naturally be on striker Edinson Cavani who has been the most prolific forward in Serie A this year. DID YOU KNOW? • Juventus striker Fabio Quagliarella, played for Napoli in 2009-2010 and could strike against his old club on Saturday. • The Bianconeri and Napoli have scored the most goals this season - 31 between them - but Azzurri striker Edinson Cavani tops the scoring charts with six strikes. • Juventus' recent record over the Partenopei is poor, with only three victories in their last nine. • Napoli inflicted Juventus' only defeat last season in Italy beating them 2-0 in the Coppa Italia final. • Marek Hamsik has scored five goals against Juventus; more than against any other club, and has three goals and three assists to his name this season. • In the last six meetings between Napoli and Juventus, there have been 24 goals shared between them. Head to Head TIM Supercup - Aug 11, 2012 - Juventus 4 - SSC Napoli 2 Coppa Italia ‎- May 20, 2012 - Juventus 0 - SSC Napoli 2 Serie A ‎- Apr 1, 2012 - Juventus 3 - SSC Napoli 0 Serie A ‎- Nov 29, 2011 - SSC Napoli 3 - Juventus 3 Serie A ‎- May 22, 2011 - Juventus 2 - SSC Napoli 2 Last Five Matches Juventus Oct 7, 2012 - Siena 1 - Juventus 2 - Serie A Oct 2, 2012 - Juventus 1 - Shakhtar Donetsk 1 - UCL Sep 29, 2012 - Juventus 4 - Roma 1 - Serie A Sep 25, 2012 - Fiorentina 0 - Juventus 0 - Serie A Sep 22, 2012 - Juventus 2 - Chievo 0 - Serie A SSC Napoli Oct 7, 2012 - SSC Napoli 2 - Udinese 1 - Serie A Oct 4, 2012 - PSV 3 - SSC Napoli 0 - EL Sep 30, 2012 - Sampdoria 0 - SSC Napoli 1 - Serie A Sep 26, 2012 - SSC Napoli 3 - Lazio 0 - Serie A Sep 23, 2012 - Catania 0 - SSC Napoli 0 - Serie A Players to Watch Andrea Pirlo If Napoli let the talented 33-year-old sit and dictate play like he is so accustomed to doing for Antonio Conte's side, then, it could yet well be a long night for the visitors. He has shown critics that, despite heading into his twilight years, he is still capable of turning in a performance for the national side too, the Partenopei would be foolish to ignore the threat of Pirlo. Edinson Cavani Has been the man to watch for the Azzurri this season and already has six goals to his name in Serie A, good control with the ball at his feet and strong in the air, Cavani is arguably the complete centre forward and may well fancy his chances of grabbing a goal or two, in Buffon's absence, for Walter Mazzarri's men. Prediction There are usually plenty of goals when these two sides clash, and although Napoli have perhaps had the edge over their rivals in recent encounters, home advantage may just give the Bianconeri leverage in this one. Editor's Prediction Juventus 3 - 2 Napoli http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/