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Juventus journey to certainly one of their greatest rivals on Saturday as they return from the worldwide break hoping to rebound from the dispiriting opening two weeks of the season which have left critical query marks hanging over their Serie A title credentials.
Napoli await for Massimiliano Allegri’s group who’ve to this point managed only a level from their two league fixtures and fell to a humiliating dwelling defeat to promoted Empoli late final month, a day after Cristiano Ronaldo fled for England.
Their opponents in the meantime have an ideal six factors and can welcome again Victor Osimhen to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona after the proficient ahead’s two-match suspension for hitting Daan Heymans of their opening day 2-0 win over Venezia was halved on attraction.
Juve are additionally in a race in opposition to time to get their South American gamers — together with key first-teamers Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado — again in time from their respective international locations’ World Cup qualifiers.
Allegri will nonetheless be cheered by the shape confirmed by Moise Kean in Italy’s 5-0 stroll in opposition to Lithuania on Wednesday night time, a brace and all-round dominating efficiency up entrance in Reggio Emilia displaying that he’s prepared for motion on his Juve comeback.
Kean, 21, will alongside Alvaro Morata be answerable for plugging the outlet left in assault by Ronaldo’s departure to Manchester United, and his return to Turin offers him the prospect to say a number one function not simply at Juve but in addition for the nationwide group.
Strain has grown on Italy coach Roberto Mancini to drop Ciro Motionless, an unconvincing presence in worldwide soccer, and Kean regarded snug within the Azzurri jersey after lacking out on Euro 2020.
“I’ve come again to Italy with new objectives and with a brand new head on my shoulders,” Kean, who final season impressed on mortgage from Everton at Paris Saint-Germain, stated after his double.
“Being there helped me so much, as a result of I used to be near some actually nice gamers, I used to be fortunate to have the ability to take notes and study on a regular basis.”
Allegri may even be capable to depend on Manuel Locatelli, who will make his first begin for the membership he supported as a boy after shining in Italy’s midfield of their disappointing goalless attract Switzerland final weekend.
That ought to assist Juve in opposition to Napoli, who’re brief in midfield after accidents to Piotr Zielinski, Diego Demme and Stanislav Lobotka.
Italian media report that deadline-day signing Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa may make his full debut for Luciano Spalletti’s facet regardless of solely arriving for his first coaching session on Wednesday.
The weekend’s different large match sees AC Milan and Lazio put their excellent information on the road on Sunday night, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic a potential starter on the San Siro after Olivier Giroud contracted Covid-19 final week.
Lazio have gotten off to a blistering begin below Maurizio Sarri and Motionless shall be eager to quieten the doubters by including to the 4 league objectives he has already netted this season.
Participant to look at: Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Osimhen missed giant chunks of final season via damage and coronavirus after Napoli shelled out a club-record payment to signal him from Lille, and massive issues are anticipated of the Nigeria striker below Spalletti after a promising pre-season.
The 22-year-old has solely performed 21 minutes of the present marketing campaign owing to his crimson card in opposition to Venezia, that means he ought to be raring to go in what’s historically the most important recreation of Napoli’s season after netting for his nation in opposition to Cape Verde on Tuesday.
Key stats
1 — Juve have solely managed a single level in two matches in opposition to Udinese and Empoli.
9 – Lazio’s spectacular purpose tally after simply two matches below new coach Sarri.
Fixtures (all occasions GMT)
Saturday
Empoli v Venezia (1300),
Napoli v Juventus (1600),
Atalanta v Fiorentina (1845)
Sunday
Sampdoria v Inter Milan (1030),
Cagliari v Genoa,
Spezia v Udinese,
Torino v Salernitana (all 1300),
AC Milan v Lazio (1600),
Roma v Sassuolo (1845)
Monday
Bologna v Verona (1845)
AFP
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