Napoli vs Juventus preview - Napoli confidence on the rise



Posted Saturday, January 10, 2015 by PA

Napoli are growing in confidence going into their home clash with Serie A leaders Juventus on Sunday evening.

Rafa Benitez's side, who have lost just once at home this season, are fourth in the table but level on 30 points with third-place Lazio.

They will also be upbeat about their chances of getting a good result against Juve because the sides met in the Italian Supercup final last month in Doha and Napoli prevailed.

Napoli goalkeeper Rafael was the hero in that triumph after coming up with a save in the penalty shoot-out.

"We are more convinced about our worth after the Italian Supercup," Rafael told the Italian press. "We usually don't fail in games against Juve and we hope that will be the case on Sunday.

"We want to close the gap on the top three."

Juve drew on Tuesday with Inter Milan, 1-1, the third time they have shared the spoils in their past four league games. They are just one point clear of Roma.

The Turin giants have not won at Napoli in Serie A since the 2000-01 campaign.

Juve's Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal knows the meeting will be hotly contested.

"It's a heated and difficult game," he said. "It's still painful to have lost the Italian Super Cup but we have to look ahead and prove that we are stronger than they are."

Juve will not have the services of defender Leonardo Bonucci, who is suspended. Also missing will be injured trio Romulo, Andrea Barzagli and Kwadwo Asamoah.

Vidal accepts that his team do not have the wind in their sails, yet he believes Juve remain the team to beat.

"We had a drop in form (against Inter) and that allowed them to grow and equalise," he said. "We need to be at 100 per cent against Napoli.

"We are still ahead of Roma at the top of the standings.

"But if Roma are second it is because we have something extra than them."

Benitez is unlikely to hand new signings Ivan Strinic and Manolo Gabbiadini a start this weekend.



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