After having inconsistent performance in the Serie A this season, Napoli will at least be hoping to get another win against Juventus and win the Coppa Italia title in tonight’s final in Rome.
Looking at the available options for Genarro Gatusso, the Pertonopei will be forced into at least one change for they have a trident doubt.
Juventus on the other hand still have doubts about the fitness of Miralem Pjanic and Douglas Costa. Juve had already lost Gonzalo Higuain, who won’t have the opportunity to face his former club, experienced center-back, Giorgio Chiellini, and Merih Demiral to injuries. They are currently on the club’s treatment table.
Penalties after 90 minutes
The game goes into penalties after 90 minutes, skipping extra time if it ends all square. This was a temporary rule as the plan to prosecute the remaining matches of the season after three months of coronavirus hiatus. FIFA had also allowed five substitutions per game.
Napoli reached the final after edging past Inter Milan 2-1 on aggregate. Winger Dries Mertens emerged as the club’s all-time record goalscorer with 122 goals in the Azzurri jersey when he canceled out the Christian Eriksen opener.
Napoli goalie, David Ospina, who would later be booked for time-wasting made a series of crucial saves to help the Pertonopei reach the final and at least secure Europa spot with a win. The Colombian goalie is therefore suspended for the clash and he would be replaced in between the sticks by Alex Meret.
Fabian Ruiz is also out injured. The Spaniard is expected to be replaced by Eljif Elmas. Former Inter player, Matteo Politano got the nod for the semi-final, alongside Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne and he is expected to maintain his place.
With Stanislav Lobotka still out of action, Kostas Manolas, who recently returned from injury is expected to have a spot on the bench.
With doubt still on the fitness of Pjanic, Sami Khedira might step in. If that is going to be the case, Rodrigo Bentancur will have to be moved to the center of the midfield three, which could have utility player, Juan Cuadrado. The Colombian has been used as a right-back instead of Danilo, where he has been fielded the most this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to fill the center. With Paulo Dybala also available, Costa could be the third in the trident attack.
Aaron Ramsey is expected to be fit for the bench after missing the semi-final with Milan through injury.
Probable line-ups
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Maksimovic, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Fabian Ruiz, Demme, Zielinski; Politano, Mertens, Insigne
Suspended: Ospina
Injured: Lobotka, Malcuit
Juventus (4-3-3): Buffon; Cuadrado, De Ligt, Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Bentancur, Pjanic, Matuidi; Douglas Costa, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dybala
Suspended: None
Injured: Higuain, Chiellini, Demiral
The game kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
