


Napoli vs Juventus
Monday, November 6th 2006
Stadio San Paolo
20:30 CET
Preview from Juventus.com
Napoli - Juventus: a classic
After their convincing defeat of Brescia, Juventus find themselves face to face with Napoli on match day 10 of the championship, more than two months after their third round TIM Cup tie of the 27th August. Back then the San Paolo was also the host, with the home side sealing victory on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time. A lot had changed since then though, particularly for Juventus. The Bianconeri have welcomed back world-class players like Trezeguet and Camoranesi, and have added strength to their defence in the shape of Boumsong. Moreover, the TIM Cup tie was only the third official match of the Bianconeri’s season. The understanding between the different elements has grown in the interim, as have the fitness levels and the team’s morale, after a string of excellent results which have seen them obtain a comfortable third place in the standings.
Napoli, on the other hand, have found things tougher than expected this season and come into the match on the back of defeat by Albinoleffe. Their qualities, however, are not in doubt, and their line-up must rank as one of the league’s finest. Their attack is first rate, featuring the pairing of Calaiò and Bucchi. The latter is perhaps the team’s most dangerous player, a complete footballer whose prowess in the box strikes fear into the hearts of opposition defences. Operating just behind the attacking duo is De Zerbi who, along with Ricchiuti of Rimini, must be one of the best attacking midfielders in the championship. Dalla Bona and the Uruguayan Bogliacino are the pick of the robust midfield, more adapted to running and tackling than creating chances, but capable of causing problems never the less. Paolo Cannavaro is suspended for Monday night’s clash, which leaves the brunt of responsibilities at the back to Domizzi, a powerful and highly reliable central defender. Besides the quality of their players, Napoli can also count on the hostile atmosphere of the San Paolo, a dreaded destination for any away trip, especially for the big teams who are often faced with sell-out crowds of almost 80 000.
