Lorenzo Lucca leads the Napoli line against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium tonight after the confirmed teamsheets brought a major surprise in Turin: there is no starting place for Rasmus Hojlund, while Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay both start in midfield for the visitors.
The two sides go into Serie A Matchday 10 locked together on 14 points, with Napoli seventh and Juventus eighth on goal difference, according to the live coverage on TNT Sports. Kick-off in Turin is at 19:45 UK time, with Simone Sozza refereeing a fixture that falls on Juventus' 129th birthday.
The Confirmed Teams
Juventus (3-4-1-2): Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Lucumi; Cabal, Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz, McKennie; Alajbegovic; Kolo Muani, Woltemade.
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Marianucci, Rafa Marin, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Lucca, Lang.
For Juventus, Pierre Kalulu moves into the back three alongside Bremer and Jhon Lucumi, with Federico Gatti only on the bench. Juan Cabal gets the nod at wing-back ahead of Andrea Cambiaso, and teenager Kerim Alajbegovic plays in the No.10 role behind Randal Kolo Muani and Nick Woltemade. Jeff Ekhator, back from injury, is among the substitutes, as Football Italia outlined in its team-news build-up.
The Big Calls
The headline decision is Napoli's. Lucca, not Hojlund, leads the attack, flanked by Matteo Politano and Noa Lang. Amir Rrahmani, who battled flu this week, is only fit enough for the bench, so Luca Marianucci partners Rafa Marin in central defence. De Bruyne fills the midfield hole left by the injured Stanislav Lobotka, alongside McTominay and Frank Anguissa.
Both benches tell the story of two injury-hit squads. Juventus remain without Kenan Yildiz, Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Francisco Conceicao, Nico Gonzalez and Zeki Celik, while Napoli are missing Lobotka, Alessandro Buongiorno, Leonardo Spinazzola and David Neres among others. Napoli also have to cope without their coach on the touchline: Massimiliano Allegri serves the final game of a two-match suspension on his return to Turin. The tactical background to the reunion was set out in our Juventus v Napoli preview earlier today.
So What Does It Mean?
Luciano Spalletti needs a response. Juventus lost 2-0 at Genoa on Wednesday and have won only once in their last three league games, while Napoli arrive after a 4-1 win at Monza in midweek and that wild 3-3 draw with Roma. With both clubs nine points behind fourth-placed Como in the Champions League places, the loser tonight falls further off the pace before European action resumes in midweek. Earlier today, Lazio beat Cagliari 2-1 to keep the pressure on at the top, which only sharpens what is at stake in Turin.
Beyond the Final Whistle: This is a teamsheet that screams caution from Napoli and opportunity for Juventus. Dropping your marquee striker for Lucca, starting a young centre-back in Marianucci and playing without your suspended coach is a gamble Allegri's staff will be judged on by midnight. If Kolo Muani and Woltemade bully that makeshift defence early, the gamble looks reckless; if Lucca's physicality pins Bremer and Lucumi back, it looks inspired. Either way, a draw helps nobody — expect both sides to chase this late on.
Does Lucca deserve his chance ahead of Hojlund, and who wins it in Turin tonight? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
