Juventus vs Napoli preview - Benitez has tough job to do

Posted Saturday, May 23, 2015 by PA

Napoli coach Rafael Benitez will have to come up with a brilliant strategy if his team is to end Juventus' unbeaten run at home in Serie A when the two sides meet on Saturday.

Benitez's side travel to Turin needing a win to remain in the race to finish third and qualify for the Champions League.

With two games remaining, Napoli are fourth in the standings, three points adrift of third-placed Lazio.

Roma are one point clear of Lazio in second place.

If results go Napoli's way, they could also finish as high as second in the standings.

Lazio and Roma face each other on Monday while Napoli host Lazio in their season finale on May 31.

"We can still qualify for the Champions League and we must do the best we can in our final games," Benitez told the Italian media at a press conference.

Napoli have won just seven of their 77 games at Juventus in all competitions, their last a 3-2 triumph in October 2009.

However, the Azzurri have won five and lost just one of their last seven league games.

Serie A champions Juve go into the contest in a celebratory mood.

The Bianconeri followed their 2-1 triumph at Inter Milan in last weekend's 'derby d'Italia' with Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Lazio in Rome to clinch their 10th Coppa Italia.

Alessandro Matri struck an extra-time winner to hand Juve their first domestic double since 1995.

Juve will win a treble if they beat Barcelona in next month's Champions League final.

"Going all the way in three competitions as we have done is no simple task," Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri said.

"We put in a magnificent performance against Lazio. The players were fantastic. It's never easy to win the double.

"Now we'll see what the next final has in store for us."

Juve have won 15 of their 18 games at home this season.

Alvaro Morata, who missed the Coppa final through suspension, is expected to start and play alongside Kingsley Coman in Juve's attack, with Serie A's top scorer Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente set to start on the bench.

Juve defender Stephan Lichtsteiner must serve a one-match ban.

Napoli are without the services of suspended defender Kalidou Koulibaly.