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Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from the Champions League, as Napoli host Eintracht Frankfurt, while Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus have a must-win game against Sporting CP.
We begin at 17.45 GMT at the Stadio Maradona, where Napoli need to shake off an injury crisis and the 6-2 defeat at PSV Eindhoven when they host Eintracht Frankfurt.
At 20.00 GMT, new coach Spalletti makes his European debut at Juventus, who are seeking their first victory of the competition against Sporting CP.
Luciano Spalletti insists Juventus ‘deserved to take the lead’ in their 1-1 Champions League draw with Sporting CP, but ‘if we continue with this spirit, we will win many games.’
“We are absolutely not happy with the result, because we think that we played well, did better than them, even though Sporting are a strong side who can dominate teams. We reacted well and it was just a pity we couldn’t score more goals.
“I can only congratulate the coach and team for the performance, hopefully we can play like this and win. We want to win all four remaining matches now.”
Would Vlahovic be happy to remain at Juventus?
“Yes, we talked, I am concentrated on the present and my only focus is Saturday’s game. We will try to win, as it is the derby, that means a lot and won’t be easy, but we want the points.”
Vlahovic was substituted and he reveals it was not a choice from Spalletti.
“I felt a twinge in the flexor, and I asked to come off. I don’t know if the coach wanted me to come off or not, I was sad not to finish the game, but I felt this pain. I speak for myself, I didn’t play much during pre-season, then didn’t play regularly, so I am still lacking a little something in terms of match fitness. I feel bad because I was unable to help the team to the final minute, but I’m trying to give 100 per cent of myself.”
“It’s true, in the first 15 minutes we didn’t find the right shape in defence to press, but we were more aggressive after that and had chances to score,” Koopmeiners told Sky Sport Italia.
“After the break, we attacked and it’s a pity we weren’t able to score more, as we needed to win this game. There are many positives we can take going forward, but also things we have to work on.”
Koopmeiners has a new role in defence with a back three, whereas he was used as a trequartista by Thiago Motta and Igor Tudor.
“I feel much better in this position, because I am not a forward who plays with his back to goal, where I played in other games. I told the representatives of the club that too, and I told Spalletti. I had already played this role many years ago in Holland and it is where I feel comfortable.
“I am a player who wants the ball, to pass to my teammates, to push everyone else forward, and I can do that with a midfielder and another defender near me.”
How has Spalletti changed the locker room atmosphere?
“There is a different way of playing, certainly. I also want to say that with the other coaches, we still needed to take responsibility within the locker room, not just blame the coaches. Whoever is in charge, we need to play with heart and energy.
“Spalletti surprises me a little compared to other coaches, he is quite unique. He has a positive spirit, and in this game we saw Conceicao and Yildiz putting energy into helping defence and attack, which is what you need in modern football.”
| Rank | Teams | Played | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayern | 4 | 11 | 12 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 4 | 11 | 12 |
| 3 | PSG | 4 | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Inter | 3 | 9 | 9 |
| 5 | Real Madrid | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 7 | Tottenham | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| 8 | Dortmund | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 9 | Man City | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 10 | Sporting | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | Newcastle | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 12 | Barcelona | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| 13 | Chelsea | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 14 | Atl. Madrid | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 15 | Qarabağ | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 16 | Galatasaray | 3 | -1 | 6 |
| 17 | PSV | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| 18 | Monaco | 4 | -2 | 5 |
| 19 | Atalanta | 3 | -3 | 4 |
| 20 | Frankfurt | 4 | -4 | 4 |
| 21 | Napoli | 4 | -5 | 4 |
| 22 | Marseille | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 23 | Juventus | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 24 | Club Brugge | 3 | -2 | 3 |
| 25 | Athletic | 3 | -3 | 3 |
| 26 | Union SG | 4 | -8 | 3 |
| 27 | Bodø/Glimt | 4 | -3 | 2 |
| 28 | Pafos | 3 | -4 | 2 |
| 29 | Leverkusen | 3 | -5 | 2 |
| 30 | Slavia Praha | 4 | -6 | 2 |
| 31 | Olympiacos | 4 | -7 | 2 |
| 32 | Villarreal | 3 | -3 | 1 |
| 33 | København | 4 | -8 | 1 |
| 34 | Kairat | 3 | -8 | 1 |
| 35 | Benfica | 3 | -5 | 0 |
| 36 | Ajax | 3 | -10 | 0 |
This means Juve run the very real risk of first stage elimination, having amassed only three points from the opening four match days, with a goal difference of -1.
Dusan Vlahovic cancelled out the early Maximiliano Araujo goal, but it was not enough for Juventus to get their first Champions League victory after Luciano Spalletti’s arrival.
Click here for the full match report.
Cross to the back post, Kostic volley deflected for another corner!
Ooh! Kalulu whips the ball over the top for the head of David, fantastic save to fingertip it over the bar!
David controls a long ball, could go for goal, instead lays it off for McKennie, who is blocked. He’s low on confidence and it really shows.
Into 4 minutes of added time.
Kalulu has been excellent and makes the clean tackle on Alisson Santos during a counter-attack.
Zhegrova overhits the through ball for David… straight out of play.
Kenan Yildiz off, Jonathan David on for Juventus.
Kostic snapshot from distance is easy pickings for Rui Silva.
Catamo tries to break on the counter after Koopmeiners is nutmegged, but the finish flashes wide of the near post!
Also that is Fabio Miretti’s first appearance of the season after recovering from injury.
Vlahovic and Locatelli off, Miretti and Adzic on.
No Openda or David? Interesting.
Morita and Alisson Santos on for Sporting, Joao Simoes and Pedro Goncalves off.
Juventus starting to look tired, none more so than Locatelli, who has cramp.
Cross to the near post, but Goncalves doesn’t get there, and Di Gregorio can smother.
Zhegrova boots the free kick straight out of play. Waste.
Hjulmand booked for a sliding tackle on Zhegrova after the Vlahovic back-heel flick.
Luis Suarez on, Ioannidis off for Sporting CP.
Juventus introduce Zhegrova and Kostic for Thuram and Francisco Conceicao.
Kenan Yildiz dribbles through a crowd, but the cross-shot flashes across the face of goal. There was nobody to meet it.
Sporting rode out that spell of Juve pressure and are now trying to win it.
Quenda and Vagiannidis off for Sporting, Eduardo Quaresma and Geny Catamo on.
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