Napoli’s Duvan Zapata shoots to score against Catania in the midweek Serie A match in Sicily.Napoli are the last major obstacle standing between Juventus and the delivery of their third straight Serie A title, according to defender Leonardo Bonucci.
The reigning champions this week overcame the challenge of Parma, who were previously unbeaten in 17 games, as Carlos Tevez scored twice to fire his side 14 points clear of Roma at the top of the table once again.
The Scudetto is bound to arrive in Turin in a matter of weeks, but Juve have found trips to Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo particularly difficult in recent years.
The team bus was pelted with rocks before last season’s 1-1 draw in Naples and the previous campaigns saw Juve held to a 3-3 draw and beaten 3-0 by an Edinson Cavani hat-trick.
Bonucci is under no illusions about just how motivated third-placed Napoli will be to extend their southern dominance over his club while using the game to try to catch Roma in the race for the Champions League.
“This is the hardest match before the end of the season,” the Juve central defender told reporters.
“We’ll meet a Napoli team that are motivated for so many reasons. There will be a hostile atmosphere and that’s why we’ll have to be extra focused.
“All we need to do is one simple thing: play at our absolute best from the first to the 97th minute and then, as always, the best team should win.”
The bragging rights are a secondary factor for Napoli boss Rafael Benitez, who has Roma firmly in his sights after his team closed the gap on second place to just six points with victory at Catania in midweek.
“It was an important win, and our aim is now taking second place in the championship,” said the Spanish coach.
“Our aim is to beat Roma but it will depend on them too. We will try to give our all and we can close out the season brilliantly. We need to be confident because we will need to earn 24 more points.”
Roma visit relegation-threatened Sassuolo tomorrow at lunchtime.
Also battling to beat the drop are 18th-placed Livorno, who host Inter on Monday, and basement boys Catania.
The Sicilians are now six points adrift of safety and make the longest road trip in the division to face Udinese.
Hoping to avoid being sucked into the bottom three are Bologna, but in Atalanta they welcome the league’s form team to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
Two teams locked in a battle for the Europa League berths are Lazio and Parma, who clash at the Olympic Stadium.
Parma coach Roberto Donadoni has urged his embittered players to respond well to their midweek defeat to Juve.
“I’m a little sorry about the result, but I am still satisfied with the character the lads showed,” he said.
“Now we are looking forward to the next game and to redeem ourselves.”
Clarence Seedorf earned himself a reprieve in the Milan hot-seat by delivering a 2-0 victory at Fiorentina and tonight takes his under-achieving squad to tackle 16th-placed Chievo.
Elsewhere, fourth-placed Fioren-tina visit upwardly-mobile Sampdoria and Verona look for a first win in six games when they host Genoa.
Should Verona stumble one again, Torino are ready to replace them in the top half by beating Cagliari.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing today
Bologna vs Atalanta - 18.00
Milan vs Chievo - 20.45
Tomorrow – 15.00
Sassuolo vs Roma - 12.30
Lazio vs Parma
Napoli vs Juventus - 20.45
Sampdoria vs Fiorentina
Torino vs Cagliari
Verona vs Genoa
Monday
Udinese vs Catania - 19.00
Livorno vs Inter - 21.00
Standings: Juve 81; Roma 67; Napoli 61; Fiorentina 51; Inter 48; Parma 47; Atalanta 43; Lazio 42; Sampdoria, Verona 40; Torino, Milan, Genoa 39; Udinese 35; Cagliari 32; Chievo 27; Bologna 26; Livorno 24; Sassuolo 21; Catania 20.
Serie B
Playing Today – 15.00
Avellino vs Cittadella
Cesena vs Novara 18.00
Empoli vs Juve Stabia
Latina vs Carpi
Modena vs Spezia
Padova vs Lanciano
Pescara vs Reggina
Siena vs Brescia
Trapani vs Bari
Varese vs Palermo
Tomorrow
Crotone vs Ternana 12.30
Leading standings: Palermo 60; Empoli 50; Trapani, Crotone 49; Lanciano 48; Cesena 47; Siena 46; Avellino, Latina 45; Pescara 44.