20 April 2018
Just five matches remain in the Serie A season and one that has been circled on the calendar for quite some time is up on Sunday as Juventus hosts Napoli at Allianz Stadium.
Giorgio Chiellini is no stranger to battles between the Bianconeri and Partenopei, and here's what he told the Sky Sports and Mediaset microphones two days before the match:
"The scudetto will not be decided on Sunday," said the defender. "Even if the stakes are very high. It will be a great match which we are all looking forward to, to measure ourselves against this opponent and the one-on-one battles will make the difference."
THE FIRST LEG AT SAN PAOLO
Ahead of the first match of the season in Naples, the Partenopei held a four-point lead, that was brought down to just one after Bianconeri victory.
"It was really important for us because at that moment everyone was already writing us off as dead or dying and instead we played with pride as a great team and from that moment we managed to close the gap and return to form.
"However, it wasn't just that match that's determined the current gap but our consistency shown throughout the following months. We have to congratulate Napoli who have won many difficult matches this season and come from behind in difficult situations.
"This means that beyond their technical skills they have lots of heart as well, but for us there is certainly the will to be the strongest and earn a seventh Scudetto. Right now, we realize how important that would be, and now that we have the chance to achieve that goal, we can't let it slip."
DRAWS ON THE ROAD
While the Bianconeri will take a four-point lead into the Napoli match, the advantage could have been wider save for points left on the table away to SPAL and Crotone.
"On a mental level, we work really hard but you can't always be at 200%. We came to play against SPAL after a priod with many, many matches in an emergency situation with players missing in attack which didn't allow us to rotate. The last two trips were affected by the Champions League schedule which gives and takes away.
"Of course, it gives incredible emotions because our matches against Real Madrid, even if the result was negative, were so memorable and something that will be talked about for years. However, passing from the Bernabeu to places like Benevento or Crotone is not as simple as one might think."
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM NAPOLI
Giorgio has scored four goals in his career against Napoli, but this year hasn't found the back of the net.
"Maybe it will be a good time, but the important thing is that we win. I would rather have a clean sheet than to score a goal myself...the return of Milik was important and I'm happy for him because he was very unlucky and it's not easy to find the mental strength to recover. However, we will do everything to keep him off the scoresheet."
