Prediction: Juventus vs Napoli

Verdict: Home win

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: William Hill

The unexpected slip up vs Crotone made the Serie A title chase a bit more interesting, but Juventus remain in the driving seat, heading into the potential title decider four points clear of Napoli, who could miss out on the long-awaited trophy even if they win all the remaining fixtures.

Juventus

Juventus have been the dominant force in Italy’s top flight for almost a decade now, winning six consecutive Serie A trophies and they are now close to making it seven on the bounce. Despite looking at the backs of Napoli for large periods of the current campaign, the Bianconeri managed to leapfrog the Azzurri ahead of the business end of the season and they now boast a four-point advantage over their title rivals going into the final stretch.

Juventus also came close to producing a stunning comeback in the UCL quarter-final against Real Madrid, doing brilliantly to overturn a three-goal deficit from the first leg, only to have a last-minute penalty deny them a chance to battle for a place in the semis in extra time. The Bianconeri produced a perfect response after the disappointment as they hammered Sampdoria 3-0 in their very next game, but were then well below par in the 1-1 draw with Crotone, meaning Juventus will have to show improvement in the high-profile game against Napoli.

Team News

Mario Mandzukic is back in contention, but Miralem Pjanic and Stefano Sturaro are both rated doubtful and Paulo Dybala could be left on the bench.

Napoli

Having led the title chase from the very start of the 2017/2018 campaign, Napoli appear to have missed their chance to end a long wait for the third Serie A trophy, but the Azzurri can definitely place a great deal of pressure on leaders Juventus if they manage to win in Turin. That is likely to prove a very difficult task considering a six-match losing run in meetings with the Old Lady on the road, so chances are the hosts will have a psychological advantage on Sunday evening.

Napoli have largely struggled for form over the last six weeks, winning just three of their last seven league fixtures, so it remains to be seen whether Maurizio Sarri can rally the troops and ensure his players produce a near-perfect performance that will probably be needed for the Azzurri to win in Turin. Napoli have been unbeaten on Serie A travels for some 18 months, that is from the last time they visited the Juventus Arena, recording 23 wins and 6 draws.

Team News

Key defender Kalidou Koulibaly returns from suspension, while full-back Faouzi Ghoulam remains a long-term casualty.

Key Factors to Consider

• Juventus won last six meetings with Napoli in Turin
• The Azzurri unbeaten in last 29 league games on the road (W23 D6)
• Both teams scored in four of their last five meetings
• Juventus won 49 of last 51 home games in Serie A
• The Bianconeri kept a clean sheet in nine of last ten home matches in the league

Conclusion

Six straight wins in Turin meetings with Napoli are enough to suggest that Juventus know how to play these kinds of games and that is exactly what the Azzurri are missing in a quest to win the Serie A trophy. We fully expect the trend to continue, and we are backing the Bianconeri to record yet another home win.

Verdict: Home win

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: William Hill