Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has challenged his players to rectify the club’s wretched recent results against rivals Napoli to move top of the Serie A table.
Juve have lost five of their past seven league meetings with the reigning champions, including a 5-1 thrashing in January, but are favourites for Friday evening’s clash at Allianz Stadium.
The in-form Bianconeri sit second in the table and will climb above leaders Inter Milan for at least 24 hours by registering an 11th victory of the season.
Fifth-placed Napoli are struggling to mount a title defence and, having last month reappointed former boss Walter Mazzarri after sacking Rudi Garcia, slipped 11 points adrift of Inter following a 3-0 home loss to them on Sunday.
“Tomorrow will be very tough,” Allegri told a press conference.
“Napoli stayed in the game against Inter until the second goal and we’ve only beaten them once in our last seven meetings – that’s something we need to put right.
“They’re a dangerous side away from home and have picked up 17 points on the road already.”
Juventus are just two points behind Inter, with whom they drew 1-1 on November 26, following a nine-match unbeaten run.
Allegri wants a minimum of six points from Juve’s next five fixtures to ensure the club reach the halfway point of the campaign in a stronger position than last term.
“This is a six-pointer – we have five games left before we reach the midway point of the season and they’ll all be difficult,” said Allegri, whose side finished a disappointing 2022-23 campaign in seventh position.
“Our target is to finish the first half of the campaign with more points than we did last term, when we had 38.
“We hope to achieve our target but we mustn’t take it for granted.
“Part of this job involves dealing with the pressure but we have to remember the league doesn’t finish tomorrow. There’s still a long way to go.”
Mazzarri, who initially managed Napoli between 2009 and 2013, beat Atalanta 2-1 in the first match of his second spell before the resounding loss to Inter.
The 62-year-old hopes his team can kick-start a revival by beating one of their fiercest rivals.
“Juventus v Napoli is a match that we know well because of the special sensations it generates and the importance of two teams that have been protagonists of the championship in recent years,” he told a press conference.
“We are playing against an opponent who is doing very well and there is little to add about the depth of the match.
“We go there as Italian champions and we want to highlight the progress that the boys are making.
“If we look at the squads, I don’t think there is as much of a difference as the league table says. This is also true compared to Inter.
“Unfortunately in football there are also moments and this is not a brilliant period for Napoli, especially in relation to the great last season.
“In football sometimes it doesn’t take much to make a change, it’s a question of trust but also of luck.
“There are moments which are going badly but a positive episode can change the wind.”
Newcastle United 1-1 Brighton: Longstaff salvages point for Magpies
Newcastle United came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Brighton at St. James' Park in the Premier League on Saturday.
Sean Longstaff reacted quickly to turn in an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, ensuring Newcastle maintained a 100 per cent record of scoring at home in the league, after Joel Veltman had given the Seagulls the lead.
Anthony Gordon thought he had slotted in the winner late on, only to be denied by the offside flag.
The point leaves Newcastle in sixth, three points clear of Chelsea below them, while Brighton move about Bournemouth into 10th.
Brighton soaked up an early spell of Newcastle pressure before turning the tide, sparking both sides into action. A corner in the 17th minute saw Veltman fire home from close range as he was left unmarked at the back post.
The Magpies grew back into the tie though, with Bart Verbruggen forced into a reflex save on his goal-line to keep out Dan Burn’s thumping header.
At the other end, Julio Enciso missed two golden chances – he got caught under a header that looped over the bar before watching a low shot trickle wide of the left post.
Verbruggen made another superb save to keep out Alexander Isak’s volley, but he could do nothing about Longstaff’s first-time finish down the middle minutes later, on the stroke of half-time.
Newcastle’s best chance of a winner in the second half was almost gifted to them. Tariq Lamptey slid in to stop Anthony Gordon from getting a tap-in, but Verbruggen was instead required to tip the looping clearance over the bar.
Jacob Murphy and Enciso both saw tame shots saved at either end before Harvey Barnes came off the bench to blaze a first-time shot high over the bar from close range.
In the 86th minute, Gordon thought he had scored the deciding goal, slotting into an empty net after being teed up by Miguel Almiron, but the Paraguayan was offside, and it did not stand.
Magpies earn perfect home scoring record
For the first time in Premier League history, Newcastle have scored in all 19 of their home matches.
Longstaff’s equaliser ensured that Eddie Howe’s side hit the back of the net in 100 per cent of their matches at St James’ Park for the first time since 1982-83, while they last did so in the top-flight back in 1958-59.
Newcastle have scored 79 Premier League goals this season, already their highest-ever tally in a 38-game season.
Brighton struggle for attacking flair
Since beating Sheffield United 5-0 in mid-February, Brighton have struggled in front of goal, scoring just six goals, and never more than once in each of the 11 games that have followed.
With top-scorer Joao Pedro out for the last games of the season through injury, Welbeck and Enciso were the main attacking threats, though neither could beat Dubravka.
Brighton had 15 shots against Newcastle, with five of those falling to Enciso, but it was another frustrating day in attack for Roberto De Zerbi's side.
Everton 1-0 Sheffield United: Toffees extend unbeaten run
Everton secured a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United at Goodison Park thanks to Abdoulaye Doucoure’s seventh Premier League goal of the season.
The Toffees were already assured of safety heading into Saturday’s contest, but they kept their positive run of form going against their already-relegated opponents.
Doucoure enjoyed a host of chances in the first half before his breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute after good play from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Ben Brereton Diaz looked bright for the away side in the second half, but he couldn’t help mount a comeback for Chris Wilder’s men, who will finish the season in 20th place.
Dwight McNeil’s floated delivery to the back post should have led to a goal after he found the head of Doucoure in space in the 11th minute, but he failed to divert his effort into the back of the net from a few yards out.
Just minutes later, Doucoure was presented with another gilt-edged chance as he arrived in the box one-on-one with the goalkeeper from Calvert-Lewin’s cutback, but Wes Foderingham spread himself well to make a superb stop.
The Toffees eventually opened the scoring in the 31st minute after Calvert-Lewin latched on to a throughball from McNeil before rounding the goalkeeper, and he picked out Doucoure inside the box to head into an empty net.
Brereton Diaz found himself in space on the edge of the penalty area after the break as the Blades searched for an equaliser, but his shot flew into the stand behind the goal.
Shortly after, the lively Brereton Diaz broke into the Everton box and looked to create a goalscoring opportunity, but a strong last-ditch challenge from James Tarkowski prevented a shot on goal.
Wilder’s side continued to push in the final stages of the game, and Cameron Archer was allowed space to turn on the edge in the 80th minute, but he dragged his shot wide as the Blades were on the end of another loss.
Everton's unbeaten run continues
Since losing 6-0 to Chelsea, Everton have won four and drawn one of their five Premier League games - their longest unbeaten run of the season.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has now kept 12 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, with that his second most in a single campaign after 2018-19 (14).
The Toffees remain in 15th place in the table after picking up the victory, one point ahead of Brentford as they aim to finish as high as possible now safety is confirmed.
101 goals conceded for the Blades
Sheffield United have conceded 101 Premier League goals this season - just the second side to do so in a single campaign in the competition after Swindon in 1993-94. In a 38-game (or less) English top-flight season, only Darwen (112 in 1891-92) and Leicester City (102 in 1908-09) have shipped more.
The Blades will end the season in 20th place in the Premier League table, regardless of their result on the final day, with the Yorkshire side now preparing for at least one season back in the Championship.
Wilder and his team will host top-four chasing Tottenham in their last fixture of the campaign, with the Bramall Lane faithful getting the chance to see their side for the final time this season.
'We are nearly there!' – Rodgers revels in huge Old Firm win as Celtic close in on title
In an Old Firm derby that was almost certain to decide the Scottish Premiership title race, the drama did not disappoint at Celtic Park as Brendan Rodgers savoured a pivotal 2-1 victory over rivals Rangers.
Rodgers’ side began Saturday three points ahead of their rivals with three games to go, and they are now six clear with two to play, meaning a 12th title in 13 years is all but secured.
Rangers battled hard but ultimately left themselves with too much to do.
John Lundstram was at the heart of the drama towards the end of the first half, doubling Celtic’s lead with an own goal shortly before he was sent off after a VAR review.
Rangers have scored in 33 of their 36 games, more often than any other team this season, and Cyril Dessers was on target to get one back, Matt O'Riley having earlier put the hosts ahead.
However, Rangers only attempted eight shots in the game, their lowest total in a single Premiership match this season.
Philippe Clement felt like his side were always in the contest despite going down to 10 men, but he was disappointed with the rash decision from Lundstram to make an ill-advised challenge on Alistair Johnston.
The Belgian told Sky Sports: "We didn’t start well enough – we were not good enough and giving away too many shots.
"We started to play after 2-0 and then we did good things, a few good crosses, but then of course taking a red card makes things ten times more complicated for us.
"After the red card my team kept on fighting, but the red card kills off our plan for the second half.
"It is totally unnecessary to make the tackle. It is a split-second wrong decision, but I do not forget all the things he [Lundstram] did well in the last couple of months.
"The team need to show the mentality they showed for the last 70 minutes because the first 20 was not good enough. They need to show it for 90.
"In the next two games and the Scottish Cup final it is important to show a reaction."
Rodgers' side will travel to Kilmarnock for their penultimate league match of the season on Wednesday, now only needing one point to secure the title with a match to spare.
Reflecting on a vital win that came despite O'Riley having a second-half penalty saved by Jack Butland, the Celtic boss said: "It is very significant, we are nearly there!
"Three points and another goal to the goal difference [advantage], so it’s a fantastic win. Right up until the penalty we were very good, the energy and the speed was outstanding. It was a brilliant day.
"Celtic supporters all around the world in bars and houses, they understand Celtic-Rangers is all about winning.
"The guys showed a great mentality and it’s three victories against Rangers in four games now.
"The crispness and quality of football was very good. They showed great courage. It’s there for us now, we’ve got to go on and win it."
Celtic have avoided defeat in all four Old Firm derbies in the Scottish Premiership this season (W3 D1), doing so for the first time since 2017-18.
The teams will still meet again this season, with the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park scheduled for May 25.
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