Important Facts
- Juventus is fifth (39 points) and chasing Roma, but must keep Como at bay; Napoli, in third (43), is under similar pressure between Milan and Roma.
- Juventus’ recent games often follow a pattern of a tough first half and a stronger second half; against Benfica, Thuram and McKennie scored in a controlled 2-0 win.
- Vlahović’s absence until March shifts Juve’s finishing burden to David or Openda, while Bremer provides stability; Napoli is missing Meret, Anguissa, De Bruyne, Politano, and Neres due to injury.
- Napoli has won three of the last five encounters, while Juventus remains unbeaten in its last two home games; all five encounters ended with under 3.5 goals and under 1.5 at half-time.
- The odds of around 2.0 reflect the market trend towards Juventus; given Napoli’s four draws in five league games and the traditionally low-scoring matchup, “Both teams to score: No” and Under 2.5 seem plausible.
A sold-out Allianz Stadium, a direct battle for Champions League spots, and two coaches who prioritize structure over spectacle: Juventus Turin and Napoli face each other on matchday 22 of Serie A. Luciano Spalletti welcomes Antonio Conte in a game that could reshuffle the top ranks. Juventus are in fifth place with 39 points, three behind Roma and only two ahead of Como, while Napoli are third with 43 points, three behind Milan and one ahead of Roma. The last meeting on December 7 at the Maradona ended 2-1 for Napoli, their third win in the last five league games – and this time too, it is likely to be a tactical battle. Juventus are coming off a 1-0 league defeat at Cagliari, which ended a long unbeaten run, but responded in Europe with a 2-0 win over Benfica. Napoli seem more stable in the league, but injuries and a frustrating 1-1 draw in Copenhagen are increasing the pressure, even if the bookmakers are still clearly backing the home side and a draw is considered a possibility.
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin
- Date and time: January 25, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 22)
The market is heavily favoring Juventus, listed at 2.0, but in our view, the real value lies in how they can pull off a close game. Fresh off a 2-0 night in the Champions League against Benfica, with Conceição back and Bremer providing stability, they look better equipped than injury-plagued Napoli, who are missing Meret, Anguissa, De Bruyne, Neres, and Politano.
Juventus Form & Record Check
Juventus go into this weekend on the back of three wins from their last five competitive games, capped by a controlled 2-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League. The only blemish remains the 1-0 defeat at Cagliari, a game they largely dominated but never converted their pressure into clear-cut chances. In Serie A, they also cruised past Cremonese 5-0 and won 3-0 against Sassuolo before stalling in a 1-1 draw with Lecce. A pattern is emerging: tight first halves and a significant push after the break, with Juventus often having their best spells in the second half. Spalletti has them patiently circulate the ball and then accelerate through Thuram and McKennie as soon as space opens up. The win against Benfica followed this script, with Thuram and McKennie scoring after the break and David’s movement helping to link attacks even without Vlahovic. They are fifth in the league with 39 points, three behind Roma and only two ahead of Como, so the momentum seems fragile. The defense looks more stable since Bremer has returned to bring order, but injuries are affecting depth, with Rugani and Rouhi out and Vlahovic sidelined until March. If Juventus continue to rely on late surges, they could drop points against organized opponents.
Spalletti is expected to stick with a 4-2-3-1, with Di Gregorio in goal and a back four of Kalulu, Gatti, Bremer, and Cambiaso.
Locatelli and Thuram are likely to be the double pivot, giving Koopmeiners space to operate between the lines. Yıldız will attack from the left, Conceição will provide the attacking impetus on the right, and David is expected to start up front. The full-backs are expected to push higher up the pitch once Juventus have established possession. This is still only a prediction, and a few places appear to be up for grabs. Vlahović is still out with an adductor injury, so the striker position is between David and Openda, with this predicted starting eleven leaning towards David. Rugani and Rouhi are also missing in defense, making Kelly or Cabal the most plausible cover if rotation is necessary. Conceição is an option again and could still face competition from Miretti.
Napoli Form & Record Check
Interestingly, Napoli travel to Turin in third place in Serie A, with 43 points, just 3 behind AC Milan and only 1 ahead of AS Roma, so there is very little room for error. Their league record seems strangely controlled rather than explosive, with one win and four draws in their last five games. Undefeated, yes, but the pattern reveals missed opportunities, especially against deep-lying defenses when the tempo slows down. The 1-0 win against Sassuolo, decided by Lobotka, was valuable, but it also revealed a few things: a sharp first 20 minutes, followed by a second half in which the penalty area was defended above all else. Before that, there was a 0-0 draw against Parma and 2-2 draws against Inter and Verona, games in which Napoli played well enough to win but allowed fluctuations in the course of the game. Conte’s team often seems more secure than ruthless, a balance that brings points but no clear separation at the top. In all competitions, the most recent game in the Champions League ended 1-1 in Copenhagen, with McTominay finishing off Elmas’ pass, but Napoli were unable to convert their control of the game into a second goal. They are on 8 points in the group stage, can no longer reach the top eight, and must beat Chelsea to secure a place in the playoffs. With Meret, Rrahmani, Anguissa, Gilmour, De Bruyne, and Politano injured and Neres facing surgery, Conte’s options are limited.
Conte is likely to stick with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Milinković Savić expected to continue in goal while Meret is out with a shoulder injury. In defense, Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, and Juan Jesus seem the most plausible trio given Rrahmani’s thigh and gluteal problems. In midfield, the absences of Anguissa and Gilmour reduce the options and move McTominay alongside Lobotka. If this system persists, Gutiérrez and Spinazzola should provide width, while Elmas and Vergara move inside to support Højlund and link up on the counter. The injury list remains extensive, with Neres facing further tests on his ankle and Politano out, plus De Bruyne unavailable, so fewer classic wing rotations are to be expected. Lukaku could be the most important alternative up front during the game.
Juventus – Napoli Head-to-head & Statistics
Napoli have the upper hand in the last five encounters, with three wins to Juventus Turin’s one, plus a draw. The most recent result came in December 2025, a 2-1 win for Napoli. There was also a 2-1 win in January 2025. Previously, 2024 saw another 2-1 win for Napoli and a 0-0 draw, while Juventus’ only win in this period was a 1-0 victory in 2023. There is a clear difference depending on the venue: Juventus Turin has not lost in its last two home games against Napoli, winning 1-0 in 2023 and drawing 0-0 in 2024. In Naples, however, Juventus has been beaten three times in a row in this five-game sample, each time 2-1 in 2024, January 2025, and December 2025. This away vulnerability is the most recurring pattern in the head-to-head comparison. Goals have been scored in controlled doses. All five encounters ended with under 3.5 total goals, and all five were under 1.5 goals at halftime, a streak of five games that continues regardless of form. Juventus scored in four of the five games, Napoli in three, but the games rarely open up. Even when Napoli wins, it is usually by a narrow margin and in a controlled manner rather than wildly. What is transferable: Both coaches are likely to focus on structure again, partly because of the personnel. Juventus will be without Vlahović, so the scoring burden will fall on David and Openda, while Yıldız and Koopmeiners will provide the connections. For Napoli, the goalkeeper question remains unresolved with Meret out, and absences such as Rrahmani, De Bruyne, Politano, Gilmour, and likely Anguissa and Neres could reduce their flow of play.
