Napoli - When will the 'dark horse' fate end?
(Baonghean.vn) - In recent seasons, Napoli has always been considered a strong candidate for the Serie A championship title. But at the end of the season, the throne still fell into the hands of Juventus. Most likely, this year's season will be no exception.
In the 27th round of Serie A, coach Maurizio Sarri and his team unexpectedly lost 2-4 to AS Roma at home in San Paolo. This defeat did not cause Napoli to be overtaken by Juventus for the top spot (Napoli had 1 more point and played 1 more match).
However, the prospect of seeing the “Old Lady of Turin” celebrate the championship on the final day of Serie A is clearer than ever for Napoli and their fans. If that happens, it will be extremely regrettable for Diego Maradona’s former team.
Since the beginning of the season, Napoli has been the team that has held the number 1 position the most and the longest. Witnessing the terrible performance of coach Maurizio Sarri and his team (winning 8 consecutive matches) and Juventus' slow start, many experts and fans believe that the Serie A championship title for the 2017/2018 season will be difficult to escape from the hands of the San Paolo team.
It seems that Napoli has escaped the "dark horse" label that has haunted this team for many years.
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| Napoli players were disappointed after losing 2-4 to AS Roma. Photo: Internet |
Failures in the Champions League group stage, then the Europa League round of 16 and Coppa Italia, only increased Napoli's chances of winning Serie A.
Not having to compete on many fronts will help coach Maurizio Sarri and his team have the best preparation for the championship competition in Serie A. In theory, Napoli has many more favorable factors than rival Juventus.
However, things did not go as many people expected. The San Paolo team is still just a championship candidate, and has not yet risen to become a real force capable of dethroning the "Old Lady of Turin".
The 0-1 loss to Juventus at home at San Paolo on December 1 is clear evidence of that. Napoli is still the "dark horse" of Serie A as in recent seasons.
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| Juventus is the "sprint king" of Serie A. Photo: Internet |
Although Maurizio Sarri's team is currently leading Serie A, the risk of them being overtaken by Juventus is quite clear. If the Juventus Arena team wins the make-up match, Napoli will be 2 points behind their opponents.
If Juventus can get ahead in the final stages of the season, the chance for Hamsik and his teammates to win the Serie A championship is almost impossible. Whatever is said, Juventus is rated much higher than Napoli in the sprint race.
Therefore, the 2-4 defeat against AS Roma in the 27th round recently made Napoli once again have to watch Juventus lift the Serie A championship trophy. Who knows when Napoli will stop being a "dark horse"?
