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Projected Napoli lineup vs Juventus: Insigne leads chase for top of the table

By John Vaccaro

Kevin Malcuit ,Kalidou Koulibaly and Nikola Maksimovic of SSC Napoli during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and Parma Calcio at Stadio San Paolo Naples Italy on 26 September 2018. (Photo Franco Romano)
Kevin Malcuit ,Kalidou Koulibaly and Nikola Maksimovic of SSC Napoli during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and Parma Calcio at Stadio San Paolo Naples Italy on 26 September 2018. (Photo Franco Romano) /
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STADIO SAN PAOLO, NAPLES, CAMPANIA, ITALY – 2018/09/26: Allan of SSC Napoli seen in action during the game. SSC Napoli vs Parma Calcio during the Serie A football match at San Paolo Stadium. (Final score Napoli 3 – 0 Parma). (Photo by Ernesto Vicinanza/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
STADIO SAN PAOLO, NAPLES, CAMPANIA, ITALY – 2018/09/26: Allan of SSC Napoli seen in action during the game. SSC Napoli vs Parma Calcio during the Serie A football match at San Paolo Stadium. (Final score Napoli 3 – 0 Parma). (Photo by Ernesto Vicinanza/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

CM: Marek Hamsik

It’s starting to look like the days of Marek Hamsik starting in big matches like these are numbered. He has clearly slowed and hasn’t been quite the player this year that he has been in the past. He has been disappointing for Napoli this year and has seemed to hold the attack back at times. Eventually Napoli will need to change formations to include both Dries Mertens and Arkadiusz Milik in their starting lineup. However, Hamsik’s 11 years of incredible service at Napoli have earned him another shot at performing in a big match. Hamsik will get the nod here, but if he continues to struggle Fabian Ruiz might take over this spot before these teams play in Napoli.

CM: Allan

After Jorginho left for Chelsea, Napoli needed somebody to step up and take on his creative duties. Allan has been that player. He has been providing 2 key passes a match and has already provided 2 assists this season. He was already a regular starter for Napoli in the past, but this year he has been irreplaceable. Napoli needs their attack to perform at its best to have a chance against Juve and Allan will be the player that can make that happen. With Blaise Matuidi in the opposing midfield, Allan will need to have one of his best matches of the year to link up with the attack.

CM: Piotr Zielinski

Zielinski’s season got off to a great start, but he hasn’t registered a goal or an assist since the international break. Zielinski scored 2 goals during Napoli’s comeback win against Milan and then beat Italy’s porous defense in the UEFA Nations league and it looked like this would be a huge year for Zielinski. He has averaged 2.3 key passes per match in the league and supplied 3 in the Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade. Napoli’s inability to score in that match certainly wasn’t because of Zielinski. He will be another important creative piece for Napoli in this match. He has already played a huge role in taking down one Italian giant this season and Napoli will be hoping he can help take another one down here.

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