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Dec 9, 2025
Spalletti returns to Napoli as Juventus coach in Serie A title battle
Yakima Herald-Republic
MILAN (AP) -- Luciano Spalletti returns to Napoli on Sunday for the first time since leading the club to its first Serie A title in more than 30 years.
Spalletti says the prospect is already emotional for him. He goes there as the Juventus coach.
"There will be burning emotion for me because I have so many friends waiting for me there," Spalletti said. "It won't matter how I am welcomed but the feeling I have towards them is that of a person who loves them."
Spalletti left Napoli in 2023 after steering it to its first league title in 33 years, saying at the time that he needed a year off. However, just three months later he was appointed as the new Italy coach after Roberto Mancini surprisingly resigned.
Spalletti was fired from the Italy job in June and Juventus hired him in October after the Bianconeri fired Igor Tudor for a poor start to the season.
Juventus is seventh in Serie A but only five points below joint leaders Napoli and AC Milan.
Juventus hasn't won Serie A since 2020 when it ended a run of nine straight titles. That domination was started by Antonio Conte, the current Napoli coach.
Conte also ended the Juventus streak by leading Inter Milan to the title in 2021. He coached Napoli to the crown last season.
The 56-year-old Conte, who also played for Juventus for 13 years, acknowledged the emotional matchup this weekend and tried to downplay it.
"At the end of the day it's a match and there's three points at stake," Conte said. "I have great respect for them but on the field everyone will try to take the three points home."
Key matchups
The top four in Serie A are separated by just one point in an exciting title race.
Co-leader Milan visits Torino on Monday with the host on a five-match winless run.
However, Torino has proved tricky for the top sides. It has managed draws against Bologna and Juventus and beat Napoli and Roma.
Inter and Roma are a point behind the top two. Inter hosts Como in a regional derby on Saturday with the visitor jus
