Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini believes that a win over Napoli on Sunday would be the final blow on I Partenopei’s league title ambitions.
The Turin side head to Stadio San Paolo with a 13-point lead after taking 22 wins and three draws from 25 matches this campaign.
Napoli though have only lost once in the league since a 3-1 defeat to Juventus in September, but three draws in their last five games have seen Carlo Ancelotti’s side fall further behind the Old Lady in the title race.
“On Sunday we have another big game against a team who, in recent years, have made us sweat and then we’ll have plenty of time to prepare for the second leg against Atletico,” Chiellini told Sky Italia.
“Napoli deserve to be in the position they’re in. We’re doing something extraordinary, but we mustn’t think it’s over.
“Clearly a victory at the San Paolo would be the final knockout.”
The Italian also reflected on his team’s poor performance at the Wanda Metropolitano against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16 first leg, where the hosts won 2-0, hence taking a significant advantage to the return leg.
“We still had some waste from Madrid in our heads and legs against Bologna,” the 34-year-old said.
“You always pay the price for Champions League matches and we have another important one coming up, but we had to give an impression of solidity and we did that.
“Obviously we weren’t fluid, but it was difficult. We picked three important points and got over a heavy defeat.”
