Make or break for Napoli purists as dominant Juventus seek seventh Serie A title in a row

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  • Juventus are in the hunt for their 36th league title while Napoli are dreaming of their third.

    Defending champions Juve lead the way in Serie A while their challengers from Naples occupy second place and the two go toe-to-toe in Turin.

    TOO CLOSE TO CALL

    Part of what makes this such a mouth-watering tie is that there’s precious little to split the two teams and the result really can go either way.

    Juventus play at home and boast an excellent run of form in Turin, winning each of their last seven Serie A games in their own backyard. On the other hand, Napoli come into the fixture on the back of a 29-match unbeaten streak on the road in the Italian top flight.

    The hosts have kept clean sheets in eight of their last nine matches and the visitors have registered six in their last seven away games. There’s nothing to separate them in terms of form either with both outfits winning three and drawing two of their last five league games.

    This could either end up being an intense, cagey draw or be decided by the odd goal, be it a defensive error or a moment of brilliance.

    Juventus and Napoli are neck and neck in the title race.

    Juventus and Napoli are neck and neck in the title race.

    MAKE OR BREAK FOR NAPOLI

    While it’s difficult to separate the two teams, the one distinction that can be made is that Napoli need to win a lot more than Juventus do. With four points the difference at the summit of Serie A, victory for the away side would narrow the gap to a single point with four games to play.

    That makes things interesting with the Bianconeri facing the more treacherous of the two run-ins with Inter Milan and Roma to travel to before the season’s conclusion. Massimiliano Allegri’s troops will also have a Coppa Italia final against AC Milan to contend with which is sandwiched between an encounter with Bologna at home and their trip to the Stadio Olimpico.

    Napoli have been a breath of fresh air in Italian football this season with Maurizio Sarri’s possession-based tactics coming to the fore. Gli Azzurri have entertained spectators with their quick passing and expansive style of play.

    Going trophyless after a season that promised so much and forced the rest of Europe to take notice would be a shame. Beat Juventus and they have a real shot at ending the Italian giants’ six-year dominance of the Scudetto and grant their impressive season a fairytale ending.

    Napoli have enjoyed an inspired season.

    Napoli have enjoyed an inspired season.

    PRAGMATIST VERSUS PURIST

    Napoli cannot match the financial strength of Juventus or compare with the rich history of the Italian powerhouse. But at least on the pitch, what they lack in star quality they make up for by staying true to an elegant philosophy laid out by Sarri. The system that’s built on short triangular passes swiftly moving the attack forward has attained plenty of admiration even from Pep Guardiola this season.

    While it’s easy on the eye, Sarri’s tactical approach leaves little leeway for adaptation and flexibility, partly due to the specific demands of the system that requires certain players to be permanent fixtures, limiting options for rotation. His side aren’t equipped to reorganise themselves for the purpose of countering the opposition’s strategy and that leaves them at a disadvantage.

    Allegri on the other hand is happy to adopt a more pragmatic approach to achieve the desired result. In the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid, his team were deployed higher up the field and played with greater intensity than in the first leg 3-0 defeat.

    Ultimately though, the route to goal was rather fundamental with crosses to the far post proving to be the greatest threat. It was simple, perhaps not overly inspiring but ever so effective and nearly forced through an impossible comeback.

    Neither Allegri nor Sarri will deviate from their approach. Will expression and methodology prevail over professionalism and resolve?

    Maurizio Sarri (r) and Massimiliano Allegri.

    Maurizio Sarri (r) and Massimiliano Allegri.

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