Manna: ‘Napoli cannot underestimate Juventus, Lucca must prove his worth’

NAPLES, ITALY - JULY 14: Giovanni Manna SSC Napoli sports director as Massimiliano Allegri is unveiled as the new SSC Napoli head coach at Teatro di San Carlo on July 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Napoli director Giovanni Manna warns Juventus in crisis ‘must not be underestimated,’ while he urges Lorenzo Lucca to ‘prove he deserves to wear the shirt’ in a rare start.

It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Partenopei got back on track with the midweek 4-1 victory away to Monza, but Stanislav Lobotka badly sprained his ankle and will be out of action for circa six weeks.

He joins Benoit Badiashile, Leonardo Spinazzola, David Neres, Alisson Santos, Costantino Favasuli and Alessandro Buongiorno on the treatment table.

There was a late surprise absence, because Rasmus Hojlund isn’t even on the bench after coming down with flu symptoms, which is also why Amir Rrahmani is rested.

Manna keeps Napoli on their toes

“It is an important match because we have not yet managed two consecutive victories this season, so it’s important to show consistency after the good performances with Roma, Bodo/Glimt and Monza,” Manna told DAZN Italia.

“We are up against a team that is in a tough moment, but must not be underestimated, as Juventus remain a strong side. We’ve got to stay on our toes and try to put our values onto the pitch.”

Max Allegri continues the two-match touchline ban for his furious reaction during the 3-3 draw with Roma, so assistant manager Marco Landucci is on the bench.

Both of course worked together here when winning the Scudetto for Juventus, but are now opponents, just as Luciano Spalletti faces his old club after taking the title in 2023.

“It is a very difficult fixture, because when a team is under that pressure, they need to come together and we expect them to come out fighting from the start tonight,” warned Manna, himself a former Juve figure.

“We need to focus on our own characteristics and our own strengths. It will be long, so we’ve got to concentrate from the first to the last minute.”

Both sides go into this clash on 14 points, so whoever wins will be in seventh place, but still three points adrift of impressive Frosinone.

Noa Lang struggled at first to make his mark and went on loan to Galatasaray, so now Napoli hope that Lorenzo Lucca and Sam Beukema can follow suit and eventually flourish.

“We must have patience, but not too much, because the fans have little patience,” added Manna.

“Lucca is a striker who did well before coming to Napoli, he has everything required, but he needs to prove every time he has the opportunity that he deserves to wear the Napoli shirt.

“The attitude is where it begins, that is where the rest of the performance comes out. As for Beukema, he did well on Wednesday, he’s improving, we made an investment last year and he can bring energy to the side.”