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Juventus logo
Serie A | Gameweek 7
Sep 29, 2018 at 5pm UK
 
Napoli logo

3-1

Mandzukic (26', 49'), Bonucci (76')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Mertens (10')
Rui (58')

How Juventus could line up against Napoli

Sports Mole looks at how seven-time defending champions Juventus could line up in their top-of-the-table Serie A clash with Napoli this weekend.

The top two in Serie A will face off on Saturday as champions Juventus host Napoli in Turin looking to extend their perfect start to the new season.

Not since 1985-86 have Juventus begun a Serie A campaign with seven successive wins - a feat Napoli themselves managed last term before still only finishing second behind the dominant Turin outfit.

Victory for Juventus would leave them six points clear at the top of the table already, putting them another step closer to an unprecedented eighth successive Scudetto.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how they could line up against their closest title challengers.



Possible JUV XI vs. NAP

Massimiliano Allegri has the personnel to switch between a number of different systems with relative ease, but a 4-3-3 looks most likely against Napoli this weekend.

Cristiano Ronaldo - now very much on the goal trail for his new club - will join Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala in the attacking three once again, with Filippo Bernardeschi expected to be consigned to a place on the bench once more.

However, there are expected to be changes from the midweek win over Bologna, with the likes of Wojciech Szczesny and Alex Sandro expected to return alongside Mandzukic.

Allegri is spoilt for choice in midfield but is likely to welcome Emre Can back into the team next to Miralem Pjanic and Blaise Matuidi, meaning that Sami Khedria and Rodrigo Bentancur would miss out.

There is also a decision to be made at the heart of the defence, with Daniele Rugani, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Mehdi Benatia all in contention for a starting role.

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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli19142330121844
2Atalanta BCAtalanta18132343202341
3Inter Milan17124145153040
4Lazio1911263327635
5Juventus18711030151532
6Fiorentina1895431181332
7Bologna177732521428
8AC Milan177642617927
9Udinese197482328-525
10Roma196582624223
11Torino195681924-521
12Empoli194871822-420
13Genoa194871627-1120
14Parma194782534-919
15Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1961122442-1819
16Como184682030-1018
17CagliariCagliari1945101832-1417
18Lecce1945101131-2017
19VeneziaVenezia1935111832-1414
20Monza1917111727-1010


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