Super-sub Simone Zaza is hoping a “title-winning” late strike that sent champions Juventus top of Serie A yesterday after a 1-0 win over Napoli helps seal his place at Euro 2016.
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Paulo Dybala was next to miss an excellent chance.
3-5-2:Buffon; Lichsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli; Cuadrado, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Dybala, Morata.
Oscar Damiani believes star men Paul Pogba and Gonzalo Higuain possess the quality to decide the crunch clash between his former clubs Juventus and Napoli. Napoli legend, Diego Maradonna has also caught wind of tonight’s anticipated match, as this week he posted on Twitter a picture of himself holding a Number 9 Higuain Jersey saying “Forza Napoli”.
Juventus had a really slow start to the Serie A season but they are one of the hottest teams in the Europe right now and have sprung back to life. Fullback Elseid Hysaj got free on the right flank and fired off a gorgeous cross to pick out a run from Gonzalo Higuain in front of goal, and the Argentine striker had gotten space from his defender to nod the cross in – but Leonardo Bonucci instinctively threw his foot out up high and just barely got a toe onto Hysaj’s cross to deflect it away. Marek Hamsik is having one hell of a season as well.
Napoli have won 71% of their games.
Higuain had scored 24 goals in as many matches entering the game at the Juventus Stadium but wasn’t given much room to operate. That is why Higuain is so often in one-on-one or two-on-one situations against centre-backs, where he thrives thanks to his speed, dribbling skills and robust shooting. An achievement well deserved considering merely a decade ago the club was languishing in second division prior to the De Laurentis take over.
It was the fourth goal this campaign for Zaza, an Italy striker who is in his first season with Juventus.
“They’re so strong defensively so it is always hard to score them a goal“. Furthermore, the fact that Pepe Reina is no longer a consistent goalie is the best-kept secret in Serie A. Juventus had a poor start to the season and have been playing catch-up ever since. Although, in the last couple of matches they have paced themselves better.
As for Napoli they are healthy and with Alberto Grassi being the only injured player they should be at full strength.
“I’d have preferred losing on a counter attack, rather than this way, but we’ve played on a par with Juventus, we must focus on the positive thing of this game”.
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The result also means Juve has won 15 Serie A games in a row and halted Napoli’s own nine-game winning streak in the league. If Napoli have any concrete advantage, it’s that they’re healthy, and Juventus are not.
