Antonio Conte will hope to get the better of his former side Juventus when Napoli welcome them on Sunday.

Headlining Matchday 14 of Serie A, Italian heavyweights Napoli and Juventus collide at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday in a clash rich with history, subplots, and renewed ambition. Both clubs have rediscovered their rhythm in recent weeks, and this meeting carries added spice as Antonio Conte and Luciano Spalletti, two managers deeply woven into the fabric of their opponent’s history, face each other for the first time.

Napoli enter the contest transformed from the inconsistent side that stumbled through the early months of the season. A tactical shift, enforced by injuries and suspensions but embraced wholeheartedly by Antonio Conte, appears to have reignited last year’s champions. The Partenopei have strung together four consecutive victories across all competitions, blending defensive resilience with the sharp, transition-based attacking approach Conte favours.

Impressive wins over Atalanta and Qarabag restored confidence, but their most symbolic triumph came in last week’s Derby del Sole, where a stunning David Neres strike secured a 1-0 victory over Roma. The momentum carried into midweek, as Napoli reached the Coppa Italia quarter-finals by surviving a marathon penalty shootout against Cagliari, complete with a dramatic save-and-score moment from goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

Now entering their final home match of 2025, Napoli boast an extraordinary league record at the Maradona: they have not lost a Serie A home fixture in a full calendar year, collecting 15 wins and five draws. Avoiding defeat again on Sunday would mark their first unbeaten home league calendar year since 1987, a milestone Conte will be eager to claim as his own.

The match is also layered with personal history. Conte returns to face a Juventus side for whom he served with distinction as both player and manager, guiding the Bianconeri to three straight Scudetti from 2012-2014. On the opposite bench, Spalletti meets Napoli for the first time since delivering their long-awaited league title in 2023.

Juventus arrive in Naples with their own sense of renewal. Under Spalletti, they remain unbeaten in all competitions, with four wins and three draws reflecting a more organised and balanced approach compared to the chaotic early season. Their recent victories over Bodo/Glimt in Europe, Cagliari in Serie A, and Udinese in the Coppa Italia have reintroduced a sense of purpose to a squad that had lost direction.

Though Juve sit outside the top six, this match presents an opportunity to stake a claim in an increasingly crowded title race. They trail Napoli by five points, but a statement victory at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, something they have not achieved since 2019, could dramatically shift the narrative.

What elevates the stakes further is Napoli’s six-match winning streak at home against Juventus, a run that has flipped the historical balance between the clubs. Once dominated by the Bianconeri, the fixture has firmly swung in favour of the Southerners in recent years. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.

Team News & Tactics

SSC Napoli

Napoli continue to battle a significant injury crisis as Antonio Conte prepares his side for one of their biggest league fixtures of the season. The Partenopei rested several key players during their midweek Coppa Italia tie, but many established starters are expected to return for Sunday’s showdown.

Midfield has been hit hardest, with Stanislav Lobotka becoming the latest player to join an already crowded treatment room that includes Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and Billy Gilmour. In attack, Romelu Lukaku remains sidelined, while full-back Miguel Gutierrez is still recovering from an ankle issue. Goalkeeper Alex Meret also continues his spell out of action, leaving Vanja Milinkovic-Savic to retain his place between the posts.

Despite all the setbacks, Napoli still possess dangerous attacking outlets. After being rested against Cagliari, David Neres is expected to return to the starting XI, eager to continue his superb form. The Brazilian winger has recorded five goal contributions across his last six Serie A outings and should play a crucial creative role behind Rasmus Hojlund, who is set to lead the line once again.

Conte’s structure remains largely unchanged, with the 3-4-2-1 system offering both defensive solidity and freedom for his attacking midfielders. The wing-backs will again be essential, while the returning senior defenders aim to guide Napoli through one of their toughest tests of the season.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, Elmas, McTominay, Olivera; Neres, Lang; Hojlund

Juventus

Juventus enter this marquee clash carrying several significant absences, particularly in defence and attack. The most damaging setback remains the long-term injury to Dusan Vlahovic, who has been ruled out until 2026 with an adductor issue. As a result, Luciano Spalletti must once again turn to either Lois Openda or Jonathan David to lead the line. David was preferred in midweek and scored in the Coppa Italia, which strengthens his case for retaining the starting role.

At the back, Juve continue to deal with a depleted centre-back department. Federico Gatti, Gleison Bremer, and Daniele Rugani are all unavailable, forcing Spalletti to improvise with makeshift defensive combinations. The return of first-choice goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio against Udinese was a welcome boost, but his protection will rely heavily on adaptability from the remaining defensive personnel.

In midfield and attack, Juventus will once again pin their creative hopes on Kenan Yildiz, who has been outstanding this season. However, it is worth noting that all seven of his Serie A goal involvements have come at the Allianz Stadium, raising questions about whether he can replicate that influence away from home in one of Italy’s most intimidating venues.

Juventus’s 3-4-2-1 structure offers Spalletti tactical flexibility, especially in transitions, but the lack of defensive depth could become a major factor against a fluid Napoli attack.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, Kostic; Conceicao, Yildiz; David

Key Stats

• Napoli have not lost a single home league match in exactly one year, recording 15 wins and five draws during that span. Avoiding defeat on Sunday would mark their first full calendar year unbeaten at home since 1987.
• The Partenopei have won all of the last six home meetings against Juventus at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli’s longest such streak against the Bianconeri in Serie A’s modern era.
• Since Luciano Spalletti’s arrival, Juve have recorded four wins and three draws across all competitions. This run includes victories in Serie A, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia.
• Napoli have conceded only one goal in their last four competitive matches, all of which were victories. Juventus, meanwhile, have kept three straight clean sheets under Spalletti.
• Kenan Yildiz has been involved in seven league goals this season, but all seven have come in home matches. He has yet to produce a goal or assist away from Turin.

Player to Watch

Scott McTominay

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In a match likely to be defined by intensity, discipline, and midfield duels, Scott McTominay emerges as a pivotal figure for Napoli. Since arriving in the summer, the Scotland international has grown into one of Antonio Conte’s most trusted lieutenants, offering a blend of physicality, tactical intelligence, and aggressive forward running that perfectly complements Napoli’s revamped 3-4-2-1 structure.

McTominay’s ability to cover ground relentlessly, time his late surges into the box, and disrupt opposition build-up has added a new dimension to the Partenopei midfield, particularly crucial now that Stanislav Lobotka, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour are unavailable. His presence will be central in dictating the tempo, breaking up Juventus’s rhythm, and supporting Napoli’s attacking transitions through David Neres and Rasmus Hojlund.

Against a Juventus side that relies heavily on compact defensive organisation and quick counter-attacks, McTominay’s duel with Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram could shape the flow of the match. If he asserts control early, Napoli’s chances of extending their extraordinary home record and pushing toward the summit of Serie A will rise significantly.

Prediction

SSC Napoli 2-1 Juventus

With both sides rediscovering form and boasting managers who know their opponents intimately, this fixture promises to be a cagey, high-level tactical battle. Napoli hold two clear advantages: home supremacy, having gone a full calendar year without losing a Serie A match at the Maradona, and the momentum of a four-match winning streak across all competitions.

Antonio Conte’s shift to a more compact, vertically aggressive 3-4-2-1 has restored defensive balance while unleashing key attackers like David Neres and Jesper Lindstrom in advanced half-spaces. Juventus, however, are no longer the disjointed outfit seen in early autumn.

Luciano Spalletti has stabilised the Bianconeri with efficient, direct transitions and improved defensive structure. Even without Dusan Vlahovic, Juve have found reliable attacking contributions from Kenan Yildiz and Jonathan David, though their creative ceiling remains lower than Napoli’s, especially away from home.

The absence of three centre-backs, Gleison Bremer, Daniele Rugani, and Federico Gatti, could also expose structural weaknesses against a Napoli frontline that thrives on movement and quick combinations.

Ultimately, Napoli’s home form, superior cohesion, and midfield edge through Scott McTominay and Stanislav Lobotka’s replacements tilt the balance their way, though Juventus possess enough defensive resilience to avoid a collapse.