Napoli vs Juventus Prediction & Betting Tips - Serie A

Prediction published on 11/01/2023, 22:17  by Daniel Ngulu in Serie A Predictions

The biggest game in the Italian Serie A comes this Friday as league leaders Napoli play host to second placed Juventus at the Diego Maradona Stadium in Naples. Napoli are top of the standings with 44 points, seven ahead of Juventus. After starting the year on a losing note, Napoli recovered in their most recent game, beating Sampdoria 2-0 with goals from Victor Osimhen and Eljif Elmas. The loss to Inter Milan in the opening game of 2023 was Napoli’s first in the league this season and second in their 23 matches all season. It was also only the second time this season that they failed to score in the Serie A. They have scored two or more goals in eight of their last 10 league matches but they have just two clean sheets in the last five league games. At home, Napoli have dropped points in just one of their eight matches this season – in a draw with Lecce. They have one loss and three wins in their last five matches against Juventus in Serie A. Napoli’s attacking duo of Osimhen (with 12 goal involvements) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (with 11 goal involvements) will be in focus against the best defensive side in the league, hoping to break Juve’s great recent run. Napoli are the highest scorers in the league so far and these two have a big say in that, with Osimhen currently the top scorer with 10 goals.

Juventus have been on a silent rise after a poor start to the season and will go into this game as the team with the best form in the league in the last five games. They have eight straight wins in the league and will be looking to close the gap on Napoli to just four points. Their strongest point in the Serie A this season has been at the back and while they come into this game as the best defensive side, they have kept eight straight clean sheets in their recent league games. The visitors have conceded just seven goals in their 17 matches this season, letting in only two in the last 10. They are the lowest scorers in the top five, having scored 26, with most of their attention definitely going into defending. In their last eight matches, they’ve scored one goal in five, and won all. There is a consistency in their attack, even though it is not their strongest department; Juventus have only failed to score in three of 17 league games this season. Their troublesome away form is now a thing of the past. Juve have improved from the run of six straight winless away league games and are here on four straight away wins, all ending 1-0. Unlike Napoli, Juventus have a long list of injuries, and to high profile players. Dusan Vlahovic, Paul Pogba, Leonardo Bonucci and Juan Cuadrado are all out of this game while Mattia de Sciglio remains a serious doubt.