If the video did kill a radio star – as that song suggests – then tactics are to blame for killing the Serie A derby between Juventus and Napoli on Saturday night.Tensions were running high around and on the pitch today in Turin, but instead of a spicy battle between two impeccable sides, we witnessed evenly-matched teams with little to offer offensively. And it ended like that – 0:0.##NAJAVA_MECA_8350569##It all started with a rather boring first half, as both sides opted for a physical battle in the midfield, keeping almost all the action in the space between the boxes. Juve focused on keeping Romelu Lukaku away from the danger zone (and they did it almost perfectly), while Dusan Vlahovic, on the other end, just couldn’t handle the pressure coming from the Partenopei centre-backs. The Serbian forward made a serious mistake around the 30th-minute mark with a weak cross-field pass straight at Scott McTominay. The former Manchester United player surged forward and unleashed the strike from the edge of the area, but Juve’s keeper, Di Gregorio, somehow managed to stop it. And that was – believe it or not – the only moment worth putting in the highlights section from the first half.FT: Juventus 0-0 Napoli.Shots on target from both sides: 1. pic.twitter.com/hXgE2VJ1cq— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) September 21, 2024 We were sure that the Bianconeri’s coach, Thiago Motta, would make significant changes during the break to avoid the third Serie A goalless draw in a row (after the games against Roma and Empoli). He left Vlahovic in the locker room, but everything else stayed pretty much the same. Teo Koopmeiners had an excellent mid-range shot, but after that one didn’t go in, the hosts kind of lost the necessary sharpness.vlahovic lukaku today best strikers itw? 😍🥵🥶🔥pic.twitter.com/9gZRnNYvIM— ruben🥷😮💨 (@ruben_back) September 21, 2024 On the other hand, Napoli’s boss, Antonio Conte, opted for a strange pair of subs, taking off both Khvicha and Lukaku at the same moment, 20 minutes from time. That was a sign we’re definitely heading towards a dull end to this disappointing derby.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 5FridayCagliari – Empoli 0-2 (0-1)/Colombo 33, Esposito 49/Verona – Torino 1-3 (1-2)/Kastanos 12 – Sanabria 10, Zapata 33, Adams 79/SaturdayVenezia – Genoa 2-0 (0-0)/Busio 63, Pohjanpalo 85/ Juventus – Napoli 0-021:45: (2.25) Lecce (3.50) Parma (3.40)Sunday13:30: (2.40) Fiorentina (3.45) Lazio (3.15)16:00: (3.20) Monza (3.30) Bologna (2.45)19:00: (1.65) Roma (3.60) Udinese (5.80)21:45: (1.70) Inter (4.00) Milan (5.40)Monday21:45: (1.45) Atalanta (4.40) Como (7.25)***odds are subject to change***
