Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Points-boosted Juventus face Napoli test as they look to get back on track

Reuters
Updated
Juventus have moved up to third in the Serie A standings
Juventus have moved up to third in the Serie A standingsReuters
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri won't be happy with his team's recent Serie A slump. However, Thursday's reversal of the decision to dock them 15 points in the league has massively improved their European chances ahead of their crunch clash with league leaders Napoli.

Allegri's side were down in seventh place, having lost ground on the European places in the last two weeks after back-to-back defeats to Lazio and Sassuolo.

Up against a Napoli team that will be smarting from their Champions League exit, Sunday's contest was beginning to look rather daunting. 

However, Thursday's ruling by Italy's top sports body to overturn the 15-point deduction handed down to Juve in January has boosted their season and European hopes.

Having had the 15 points restored, Juve have jumped back up to third place in the league on 59 points.

Read more about that story here.

Updated Serie A standings
Updated Serie A standingsFlashscore

Napoli have one win in their last five games, a run that includes league and Champions League defeats to AC Milan and are winless in their last three games in all competitions.

They head to Turin with injury doubts over several players, including Mario Rui, Amir Rrahmani and Matteo Politano, while forward Giovanni Simeone is out with a thigh injury, but they can take comfort in their 14-point cushion over second-placed Lazio.

Lazio will be the first of the top teams in action when they host 11th-placed Torino on Saturday.

Maurizio Sarri's men have cemented their hold on second place in recent weeks with four wins in a row and are currently five points ahead of AS Roma in third.

Lazio will most likely be without Ciro Immobile after the striker fractured his rib and hurt his back in a car crash in Rome on Sunday. Sarri will also be without suspended midfielder Danilo Cataldi.

Roma, who have tightened their grip on third place by opening up a three-point gap on AC Milan in fourth with three wins in a row, travel to an Atalanta side desperate to get back on track after two defeats and a draw in their past five matches.

Simone Inzaghi's fifth-placed Inter Milan take on an Empoli side that beat them 1-0 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, while AC Milan host Lecce.

Serie A fixtures this round
Serie A fixtures this roundFlashscore

Follow all the action from Serie A this weekend on Flashscore.