Juve and Napoli cancel each other out, it ends 0-0

The eagerly awaited fifth-day match at the Allianz Stadium in Turin between Thiago Motta’s Juventus and former player Antonio Conte’s Napoli ended in a goalless draw. Third 0-0 in a row for the Bianconeri, who deserve credit for having once again kept a clean sheet. Fourth useful result in a row for the Azzurri, who, thanks to a match in which they were holed up in defense for long stretches, remained one point ahead of the Bianconeri.

Before the kick-off, Juventus celebrated their former goalkeeper Szczesny with a plaque and a commemorative shirt for his 252 appearances. The away section was few in attendance, given the decision by the prefect of Turin to prevent away fans from travelling to Turin due to previous clashes between supporters from Campania and those of Cagliari. Despite the subsequent suspension decreed by the TAR of Piedmont because the clashes had occurred between “different competing fan groups”, only a few showed up at the Allianz Stadium, displaying a banner with the word “shame”.

On the pitch, the first half was very balanced and lacking in emotions, the match was closed for long stretches and there were very few noteworthy chances. The most dangerous ones were from Napoli, the first in the 29th minute, the result of a low shot from distance by McTominay parried by Di Gregorio and the second in injury time with the Juventus goalkeeper still alert to deflect into a corner a dangerous free kick from the right by Politano on which Lukaku had covered the view of the number 29 of the Bianconeri.

In the second half, Politano was dangerous again in the 10th minute with a left-footed shot that ended just over the crossbar. Juventus’ first (and last) real shot was seen 26 minutes into the second half: from a run through the middle by Cambiaso, the ball ended up at the feet of Koopmeiners whose curling shot with his right foot ended up out of measure.