JUVENTUS
CAN DE LIGT STEP UP?
Rated a world-beater when playing for
Ajax and Holland last season, 20-year-
old centre-back Matthijs De Ligt has
been benched by coach Maurizio Sarri
at Juve. However, he could soon be back
in first-team contention now that fellow
stopper Merih Demial has suffered an
ACL injury.TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
DO SPURS HAVE ANY CHANCE
WITHOUT KANE?
With striker Harry Kane ruled out
until at least April with a hamstring
tear, the North London side are left
with a major goalscoring void. And
given the reluctance of chairman Daniel
Levy to spend big, the prospect of finding
an adequate replacement in the transfer
market is not good.NAPOLI
WILL PEACE BE GIVEN A CHANCE AT
THE STADIO SAN PAOLO?
An armistice would be a bolt from the
blue following the events of the autumn,
with the squad refusing to attend a
“punishment” training camp organised by
club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who
then froze wage payments and left many
stars looking for a way out. These scars
watch it was next to non-existent. will not heal any time soon.
But who will he turn to now that main
striker Luis Suarez has been ruled out
until April with a knee injury? The obvious
name that springs to mind is French ace
Antoine Griezmann, who has regularly
floundered since his €120million
move from Atletico Madrid.
Mainly used by Valverde on the left
flank, Griezmann was like a fish out of
water. He has been less dynamic, not
nearly as influential and was generally
wasting his energy with all the tracking
back he had to do.
As Griezmann has proved on
numerous occasions, he is much more
effective in a free-roaming role through
the middle. Now he has the chance
to truly step up and establish some
chemistry with Lionel Messi.Benched...
Matthijs De LigtMissing...
Harry KaneFloundering...Antoine
Griezmann has
struggled this season“I can only guarantee that Barca
will play an attractive game”New coach Quique Setien Troubled...Napoli (in blue) are in disarray