There are now 9 points from the top of the standings. Facts of hard-earned victories, heavy defeats, unbridgeable voids. Points that make you look over your shoulder. Napoli collapses at Juventus, they do so with the elegance and humility of those who know they cannot give more. Eight injured, ten absent in total. The bench, last night in Turin, seemed like a twist of fate. A defeat that hurts in terms of its modalities but, also and above all, for the remorse it brings with it: because Juventus’ superiority over what remains of the Azzurri is undeniable, just as the shortcomings of a refereeing management who could have done more are also undeniable.
It will remain in the minds of Conte and the Neapolitans for a long time “double” penalty not called by Mariani just before half-time: where was the VAR? Indeed, Duties at VAR: the referee who sent Conte off in Milan a few weeks ago is once again the protagonist. And now the perspectives are changing.
MORE CAN BE DONE
David’s goal was the watershed moment in a multifaceted first half. A strong start from the home team was inevitable: in the first 5 minutes of the game Napoli never managed a possession in the opponent’s half of the field. But the push from the Bianconeri is sterile. A maneuver that faces Conte’s wall. Offensively, however, the Azzurri are small. The best, in the qualitative desert, is Vergara: stop and personality, opportunities and vision. The young Neapolitan seems like a veteran of the matches against Juventusplays well in clashes with Thuram and serves his teammates very well, with whom he seems to get along wonderfully. He also has an interesting opportunity on the left foot, but Di Gregorio stops it. Antonio and Hojlund had the only chances at the start, then Juventus upped the game and in just a few minutes risked scoring three times. First Thuram’s post, then Buongiorno’s save on the line, halfway between the miraculous and the timely. In the middle, in fact, that goal by David which sees Spinazzola late and Meret out of action. Spalletti’s team is in his image and likeness: they attack wide, then cut across the field: Yildiz is the key player, his new Kvaratskhelia, but Conceicao and Locatelli also seem like different players compared to a few months ago. Buongiorno’s intervention, however, acts as a watershed because it seems to restore great luster to the Neapolitan maneuver: Gutierrez and Spinazzola raise the engine revs, McTominay and Hojlund show themselves more. Until the episode that could have changed the inertia.
NOT EVEN VAR?
Before the break, Bremer’s double intervention on Hojlund and Kalulu on Vergara he is not whistled in the area. But not even seen again. The VAR suddenly disappears. Even on TV it’s almost difficult to see them again. But Mariani is sure, Marchetti has never called him back for the slightest doubt. Yet there would be doubt. Conte smiles sardonically but knows he has few weapons to change this match. The second half, in fact, begins with the same pattern: desire, intensity, but it is Juventus who have the best opportunities. There are two debuts for the blue team: that of a young player in place of Elmas and that of Lukaku for Vergara. The Brazilian has no impact, but yesterday’s training session in Turin was more the first training session with his teammates than the first match. Big Rom enters just after Yildiz’s second – a mess by Juan Jesus – and just before Kostic’s hat-trick which closes the match.
CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE
The three points bring Juventus back to the top in the fight to qualify for the Champions League. The same fight that will see Napoli as protagonist. By January 26th it now seems clear: the Scudetto is almost impossible this year. Confirming one of the first four places becomes the objective, a goal to be achieved with the gradual return of all those absent. Speaking of the Champions League: after having (almost) said goodbye to the Scudetto, Conte and his team must try not to do the same with the Champions League in 48 hours. A mission not impossible, but still difficult.
