Juve-Napoli one year later: the Lady’s revolution

Revolution. From one year to the next, Juve turned like a sock. In the guide, with the passage from Maurizio Sarri to Andrea Pirlo who knows of a clear change of course, without the possibility of returning. But also in the men who embody the ideas of those who direct them from the bench on the pitch. On the third day, at the Stadium, Napoli arrives. An intriguing and fascinating match, already delicate in some respects. A premature meeting that is now a fixed appointment: last year the Neapolitans visited the Bianconeri on the second day. Then it was Sarri against Ancelotti, now it is Pirlo against Gattuso. Generational change, the first challenge between the two winning friends together with the shirts of Milan and the national team. He finished 4-3 for the Dama with Koulibaly’s own goal in the recovery. Juve is presented to this challenge with the words “work in progress” (also due to the market) clearly visible. But above all with a formation diametrically opposed to the challenge of a year ago.

Defending

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Only three resist: Szczesny, Bonucci and Ronaldo, owners last season against Napoli and sure of their shirts this year. For the rest, the world has changed, as shown by the two Juventus teams, the one that took the field on August 31 and probably tomorrow. Let’s start with the defense: with Sarri I had four, with Pirlo it is and will be three. We have already said about Bonucci, otherwise everything is different: De Sciglio, De Ligt and Alex Sandro completed Sarri’s department, with the Dutchman hesitating before becoming a column for Juventus. This year Chiellini and Danilo will be there.

Midfield

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But the revolution has its foothold in the midfield, a vital organ in football. Of the three owners from last season, not one remains: all out. Or almost everyone: Pjanic and Matuidi greeted Turin, Khedira not yet. But Pirlo does not see it and the club will try to place it from here until the end of the market. Now it’s up to Arthur, Bentancur and Ramsey: only the first is a newcomer, the Uruguayan followed last year’s game from the bench. The Welshman was left out due to injury. Pirlo’s 3-4-1-2 involves the use of two full-fledged external players, an unknown solution in Sarrismo: it will be the turn of Cuadrado and Frabotta. He was also the first bench player last year in the full 90 ‘.

Attack

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Ronaldo was and will be there, it goes without saying. But the world has changed behind him and also alongside him: in the 2019 match CR7 shared the attack with Gonzalo Higuaín and Douglas Costa. What we could define as “the Matuidi and the Khedira of the advanced department”: one flew to Miami like the Pipita, the other is still in Turin but with suitcases ready to be filled. This year Ronaldo’s teammate will be Dejan Kulusevski, as will Frabotta, a name that read last year would have raised some suspicious smiles from the people of Juventus. But in a year the world changes. Juve-Napoli, still a great challenge at the dawn of the new championship. Otherwise, everything will be terribly different.