TITLE PREDICTION: JOSé ALTAFINI BACKS NAPOLI & INTER OVER JUVENTUS
Ahead of the Napoli vs. Juventus clash, Altafini analyses the injury crisis and gives his candid predictions for the Serie A title race, favouring the current leaders and Inter.
José Altafini, who used to play striker for Napoli and Juventus, thinks Napoli’s injuries are hitting them harder than Juventus. He’s eyeing Rasmus Hojlund and Francisco Conceiçao as players to watch when they meet this Sunday at Stadio Maradona.
Antonio Conte’s Napoli is getting ready to play Juventus in a big Serie A match this Sunday.
Both teams are dealing with a lot of injuries this season, so some important players won’t be on the field this weekend.
Who’s missing for Napoli and Juventus?
Napoli only has Eljif Elmas and Scott McTominay available in the middle of the field. Kevin De Bruyne, Zambo Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka, and Billy Gilmour are out for a few months.
Juventus won’t have Gleison Bremer, Federico Gatti, and Daniele Rugani on defence, and Dusan Vlahovic is out on attack. Vlahovic had surgery and won’t be back until March 2026.
Altafini, who played striker for both Juve and Napoli, believes Napoli will feel the injuries more this Sunday.
Altafini told Gazzetta, “Napoli’s lost their whole midfield, but Juventus is without Vlahovic, so they’re missing a key attacker, someone who makes the attack click.
He added, “Still, it’s annoying for a coach like Conte to be missing so many players. Actually, it’s more than a bit annoying.”
So, who will be the key players this Sunday?
Altafini said, “If Anguissa were playing for Napoli, I’d be sure he’d stand out. He’s got everything—speed, strength, smarts, and even a knack for scoring.
He continued, “So, I’ll say Hojlund, even though he hasn’t scored in months, because he can still make a difference in a big game. For Juventus, I’d go with Conceiçao because of his quick moves and how he creates chances.”
This Sunday will be the first time Conte and Luciano Spalletti have coached against each other in a real game.
Altafini’s Serie A Title Pick
Altafini noted, “Conte’s results speak for themselves. He’s won everywhere, usually winning the league title or finishing second, with just a few letdowns.
“Spalletti brought the title back to Naples after 33 years, which is amazing. I like how he’s doing at Juventus; it’s not easy.
The former striker concluded, “I think Napoli and Inter are ahead in the Serie A title race.
“I’m not sure if one has an edge. It’s close. But at this point, with all the players missing, the points can shift, and points always matter. I still think it’ll be a battle between Conte and Chivu, with Milan, Roma, and Juventus a little behind.”
TIRED OR TOUGH? THE CONFLICTING ITALIAN MEDIA REPORTS ON SCOTT MCTOMINAY’S PERFORMANCE
Scott McTominay and Napoli suffer Champions League elimination after a 3-2 home defeat to Chelsea's clinical Joao Pedro.
Scott McTominay had a rough night as Napoli crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday. The reigning Serie A champs missed out on a play-off spot after losing at home to Chelsea.
It was a wild night in the Champions League, and Napoli ended up as one of the biggest letdowns. Even with home advantage against Liam Rosenior's team, they only managed to finish 30th overall. Chelsea, on the other hand, walked away with sixth.
McTominay, along with Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund, couldn’t stop Napoli from falling 3-2 in Naples. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring, but Napoli hit back before halftime thanks to Antonio Vergara and Hojlund.
But after the break, Joao Pedro bagged a brace and sealed Napoli’s fate. The Italian press didn’t hold back in their reviews of McTominay’s performance.
Il Napolista gave McTominay a 6 out of 10. They liked his grit but pointed out he lost possession a few too many times in midfield. Still, they said he was a threat going forward—enough to give Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez something to worry about. But in the end, it just wasn’t enough for Conte’s side.
Il Messaggero also gave him a 6. They called his first half “average”, even though the game was played at a high level. After halftime, they thought he looked tired and didn’t live up to his usual standards.
Corriere dello Sport was a bit more generous with a 6.5. They praised his fighting spirit—classic Premier League style—and said he gave it everything he had. But as Serie A’s current MVP, expectations are high, and he just couldn’t find the goals Napoli needed.
Essere Partnopei matched that 6.5 rating. They praised his energy and said he was as active as ever, moving the ball well. Still, his efforts couldn’t keep Napoli from being knocked out.
Napoli Magazine skipped the ratings but said McTominay wasn’t at his best. He’s a key player for Conte and stayed committed, but it wasn’t enough to push Napoli into the next round.
"DON'T JUMP SHIP!" — ANTONIO CONTE’S EXPLOSIVE WARNING TO NAPOLI STARS AFTER JUVENTUS ROUT
Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund fail to fire as Juventus crush Napoli 3-0. Discover Conte’s defiant post-match reaction.
Napoli just fell nine points behind in the Serie A title chase after Scott McTominay and the rest of the squad took a heavy 3-0 loss against Juventus.
The defending champs barely put up a fight at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Juventus looked sharp, closing the gap with Napoli to just a single point. Right now, Gli Azzurri sit fourth with 43 points, Juventus are right behind on 42, and Inter still lead the pack with 52. If Antonio Conte’s side wants to catch up, they’ve got a lot of work to do.
McTominay played the whole match for Napoli but couldn’t change the game. Frustration was obvious for the visitors. Rasmus Hojlund, on loan from Manchester United, struggled again and didn’t make much of a difference up front. While his parent club edged out Arsenal 3-2 in London, Hojlund missed two decent chances in Turin. He hasn’t scored for Napoli since late December.
Romelu Lukaku finally got back on the pitch after his injury, but with just 12 minutes left, the result was already settled. Juventus were two goals up—Jonathan David bagged the first, Kenan Yildiz added another, and Filip Kostic finished things off near the end with a third.
Napoli are still missing another Scot, Billy Gilmour, and creative midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is out hurt as well. Next up, Chelsea comes to Naples on Wednesday night. Napoli really needs a win to stay in the hunt for a Champions League play-off spot.
Conte faced up to the defeat but made it clear Napoli aren’t about to give up on the Scudetto—even with all these injuries.
Conte didn’t sugarcoat things:
“As long as it was 1-0, it felt close—like we might grab a draw,” he said. “But after their second goal, things opened up, and then they scored a third. Credit to them, but also to my guys. There’s not much to say or criticise. Even here in Turin, they gave everything.
“Sometimes you get past these obstacles, sometimes you don’t. For the first time in my career, I had to bring on a player [Giovane]. I’d never even seen him in training—a kid who just joined us Saturday. That tells you something about what we’re dealing with right now.
“But we’re not quitting. We know the situation, and we’ll keep pushing. It feels like we’re out at sea in a storm, but we’re not bailing. If someone wants to jump ship, fine—they can swim to shore. The rest of us are staying on board, ready to fight with everything we’ve got, whatever comes our way.”