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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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2Napoli15102321101132
3Inter Milan1494134151931
4Fiorentina1494128101831
5Lazio15101430171331
6Juventus1569024101427
7AC Milan146442416822
8Bologna145722018222
9Udinese156271822-420
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12Torino154471620-416
13Parma153662125-415
14Genoa153661324-1115
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16Lecce15348826-1813
17Como152671628-1212
18Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1540111837-1912
19Monza151771319-610
20VeneziaVenezia1523101327-149


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