Timing of Napoli - Juventus clash favours Antonio Conte’s side, says Giuseppe Bruscolotti

The 60-year-old, who featured for the Naples-based club in the 1970s and 80s, is reluctant to predict the winner of Sunday’s game but gives the Turin visitors a slight edge

Nov 4, 2011 3:00:00 AM

More On :  Juventus, SSC Napoli
Federico Fernandez - Napoli (Getty Images)
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EXCLUSIVE
By Paolo Camedda

Former Napoli defender Giuseppe Bruscolotti hints that Juventus will hold a small advantage going into their showdown with the Azzurri on Sunday because the Old Lady are not involved in European competitions in midweek.

The Turin giants travel to Naples for their Serie A clash as league leaders, having picked up 19 points from nine matches, and are fresh off the back of their 2-1 defeat of Inter in Milan in the Derby d’Italia last weekend.

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On the other hand, Napoli are four places behind Antonio Conte’s side in fifth with 14 points and lost 3-2 to Bayern Munich in Germany in their Champions League Group A fixture on Wednesday.

Bruscolotti, who played for the Naples outfit in the 1970s and 1980s and won the Scudetto in 1986-87, believes that not playing in Europe could be Juve’s advantage but is reluctant to pick out a winner at the Stadio San Paolo.

"The timing is undoubtedly favourable to Juventus, because not being involved in a European competition, they had a full week to prepare for this important match on Sunday,” the 60-year-old told Goal.com Italy.

“On the other hand, Napoli were playing in a important match against a great team like Bayern Munich in the Champions League and had to spend a significant amount of physical and mental energy.

"Giving a prediction right now is difficult. Napoli-Juventus can be considered a lottery. It will be a very open and very uncertain game.”

When asked who the decisive player could be in Sunday's encounter, Bruscolotti stated: "It's hard to say.

“Napoli fans will always have faith in the forward line which comprises very important players. But I think that [coach Walter] Mazzarri also has several quality midfielders who are able to create goals with ease.”

The game on Sunday kicks off at 20.45CET.

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