Giaccherini on David’s chance and McTominay’s duty in Napoli vs. Juventus | OneFootball

Emanuele Giaccherini doesn’t feel Napoli are necessarily favourites in a Serie A match against Juventus, sees a ‘chance’ for Jonathan David and says Scott McTominay will have to ‘use his head’ against the Bianconeri.

Napoli and Juventus meet at the Stadio Maradona in the big match of Serie A Round 14 on Sunday.

Giaccherini, a former Italy international, played for Napoli and Juventus in his career and won two Serie A titles under Antonio Conte in Turin.

Tomorrow’s encounter will be the first time Conte and Luciano Spalletti, an ex-Napoli coach, meet in a competitive match.

Giaccherini: Conte’s ‘heart is black and white’

NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 04: SSC Napoli head coach Antonio Conte looks on before the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 04, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“It will be a fantastic matchup. Conte is a great professional, and he always supports the team he’s coaching,” Giaccherini told Gazzetta.

“First at Inter, now at Napoli. His heart is black and white. He made history at Juve both as a player and as a coach, but of course, right now, he wants to beat them. Last season, he deservedly won the Scudetto, something extraordinary.

“Even with this season’s difficulties, between results and injuries, he’s found solutions. It’s a different Conte; he’s transformed the team and changed their tactical set-up multiple times. Only great coaches do that.”

Conte will have to cope without several key players, including central midfielders Kevin De Bruyne, Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour and Stanislav Lobotka.

‘Massive’ Lobotka injury for Napoli

NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 11: Stanislav Lobotka of Napoli is injured during the Serie A match between Napoli and Genoa at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 11, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“Lobotka’s injury is massive; he’s the brain of the team, and he brings balance, screens the defence and builds the play. Elmas and McTominay will play, but they’ll need to use their heads,” Giaccherini noted.

“Napoli are regaining identity and individual quality with players like Neres and Lang, but Juventus are in a good place mentally; they’re coming off three straight wins, and you can see Spalletti’s work. I don’t consider Napoli favourites; the match is wide open.

“Juventus can dominate. I expect a great personality and a desire to take control of the game. Spalletti has put a lot of players in their ideal positions. Koopmeiners, McKennie and Kostic have been revitalised, and Yildiz has more freedom to show his flair and talent,” continued the former midfielder.

“Now, they need goals from the strikers who historically score a lot under him. With Vlahovic out, it’s a chance for David to rediscover himself. After all, he’s scored over 100 goals in his career.”

Vlahovic underwent surgery in London earlier this week and will remain out of action until March 2026. Other unavailable Juventus players for their game against Napoli are the defenders Gleison Bremer, Federico Gatti and Daniele Rugani.