Serie A

Juventus vs. Napoli, a game of chess between Spalletti and Conte

A crucial crossroads awaits Juventus and Napoli on Matchday 22 of Serie A. Spalletti is aiming for a big result to stay among the top positions, while Conte is ready to make his move.

The road ahead is long and as the season unfolds, Juventus vs. Napoli stands out as one of January’s most interesting fixtures. The match at the Allianz Stadium isn’t just important for the impact on the table, but it’s also a chance to assert superiority, opening the door to a number of different outcomes. Juventus come into the game caught between responsibility and ambition, with a Champions League place to secure and, despite the gap, a difficult but not impossible Scudetto push. Napoli, on the other hand, are further along in their journey, though they have lost a bit of ground on the title-defence ambitions they built earlier in the season.

Antonio and Luciano face each other again

Fate has brought their journeys together**: Spalletti and Conte, two experienced managers who are very familiar with each other.** They have each won in the other’s shoes before and now they find themselves navigating routes neither had planned.

There was a time when Luciano Spalletti was shaping the history of Napoli. Thoughts immediately go back to the 2022/23 Scudetto and the way that Napoli dominated the league. Ninety points, a 16-point lead over second place, and a bold, attacking style of football that was both exciting and extremely effective. Everything seemed to suggest the start of a long winning era, but things played out differently. Soon after winning the title**, Spalletti stepped away from Napoli** for a break, before later answering the call of the same colours at international level.

Antonio Conte’s story is even richer and more complex. A leader and captain of Juventus in the 1990s, he was shaped by some of the game’s greatest managers, including Giovanni Trapattoni, Marcello Lippi and Carlo Ancelotti. He won a host of trophies at Juventus, highlighted by five Scudetti and the 1996 Champions League, along with a UEFA Cup and an Intertoto Cup. After retiring as a player in 2004, Conte moved straight into coaching. He returned to Juventus in 2011, with the club coming out of a difficult period. What started as a push to bring Juve back into European competition quickly became an unexpected title race against Allegri’s Milan. Conte lifted the Scudetto in May 2012, then went on to win it twice more in the seasons that followed, setting the all-time points record with 102 in the 2013/14 campaign. In 2014, Conte left Juventus for the second time, continuing his career first with the Italian national team and then across some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and Serie A.

Juventus v Cagliari Calcio - Serie A — TURIN, ITALY - MAY 18: Juventus FC head coach Antonio Conte salutes during the Serie A match between Juventus and Cagliari Calcio at Juventus Arena on May 18, 2014 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Current form after European tests

In the Champions League, you win some and you lose some. It was a busy week for both teams. Napoli were held 1-1 away at Copenhagen and will now have to settle their fate at home against Chelsea in the final match of the league phase. Juventus, on the other hand, beat Benfica 2-0 at home, securing their playoff spot with a game in hand. Both results come with their emotional and physical toll. Wednesday night’s Champions League win at the Allianz Stadium helped Spalletti take the edge off the painful loss at Cagliari. The top of the Serie A table still seems far away, but a win against Napoli would not just shift momentum, it would also allow Juventus to regain ground on a direct rival for the top spots. A loss, however, would make things much tougher, especially given the strong recent form of teams like Roma and Como.

Qualifying for the Champions League playoffs early gives Juventus the chance to focus almost entirely on Serie A in the coming weeks, without losing sight of next week’s important clash with Monaco. Napoli, however, face a different challenge. The Azzurri were unable to secure all three points in Denmark, making their final league phase game at the Maradona against Chelsea crucial. Conte’s side will need a win and will also have to keep an eye on results from their direct rivals. Looking at the league and Juventus, the motivations are clear. Conte may have a small squad, but the determination and character of the reigning champions make them a tough opponent in a game like this. Earlier at San Siro, Napoli showed their resilience against the Nerazzurri, coming back twice to earn a draw that kept them in the title race. Milan and Inter have been consistent, but Napoli are determined to stay in touch, hoping for any slip-ups from the two Milanese sides. However, a loss to Spalletti could open a gap between the top two and the chasing pack.

Key talking points: players and tactics

They already faced each other on December 7, and it was Conte who came out on top against Spalletti. Napoli won 2-1, with Højlund scoring twice and Yıldız finding the net in between. Now, a month and a half later, the Dane and the Turk are once again expected to be key figures in the upcoming clash. The former Manchester United striker is just one goal away from reaching double figures for the season across all competitions, though he is still yet to score in 2026. Kenan Yıldız has 8 goals and 8 assists between Serie A and the Champions League, with his latest goal coming in the 5-0 home win over Cremonese two games ago. He will be key to raising his team’s overall level and making a decisive impact against Napoli.

US Sassuolo Calcio v Juventus FC - Serie A — SASSUOLO, ITALY - JANUARY 06: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus celebrates his team's first goal, an own goal scored by Tarik Muharemovic of US Sassuolo Calcio during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

The battle in midfield is expected to be crucial. McTominay is on the rise, both in terms of performances and goals, his most recent strike coming against Copenhagen. While the Scotsman has carried his side through matches in December and January, Thuram has regained sharpness and pace under Spalletti, scoring the opener just a few days ago against Benfica. Both players are structurally similar and will operate in similar areas of the pitch, promising a clash of intelligence, quick decision-making, and vertical play.

Defensive battles could prove decisive in this match. It’s a tactical duel between Spalletti and Conte, and both have benefited from the strength of their backlines: each side has conceded 17 goals in the league, reflecting their defensive solidity. Juventus often line up with a back four, stretching Kalulu out to the right and relying on Bremer’s commanding presence in the middle. Napoli usually play with three at the back, with Di Lorenzo starting against Copenhagen, but Conte could also opt for three central defenders with the captain stepping into midfield.

SSC Napoli v Juventus FC - Serie A — NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 07: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 07, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Juventus vs. Napoli promises plenty of excitement, with twists, surprises, and drama. Kick-off is Sunday at 18:00 CET.

(Photo Getty Images)