Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Napoli

Simply by looking at what Juventus’ social media account has been up to the last 20 or so hours since they gave the ultimatum to Napoli, you would believe that this game day, the first one in October, is very much being treating like every other one.

But what we know this is far from a normal game day.

Juventus will take the field shortly after this post goes live. And what is expected to happen is that there will be no other team on the other half of the field during warmups. That’s because it’s widely believed that Napoli have not made the trip to Turin due to the fact that a second player on their roster tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday and that local authorities in southern Italy have no permitted the club from traveling and leaving isolation.

The result of all of that means, since Napoli will have not shown up, Juventus will be awarded a 3-0 win via forfeit and go into the international break as the biggest talking point in the country even though they haven’t even played a game in a week.

Good times, right?

It feels weird to have a game thread even though there will almost certainly be no game. But hey, if there is any kind of madness to happen, at least we can hang out together. And when Juventus announce their starting lineups an hour before kickoff, we can have a little laugh together and then wait to see what happens next.

Good thing it looks like it’s a beautiful night to be outside in Turin for those 1,000 or so spectators who will be allowed into Allianz Stadium to “watch” this “game” take place.

Oh no. Let the rains begin at the stadium, I guess.

MATCH INFO

When: Sunday, Oct. 3, 2020

Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy

Official kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local time in Italy and across Europe; 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time; 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time

STARTING LINEUPS

Juventus starting XI (3-4-1-2): Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, Chiellini; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Arthur, Cuadrado; Ramsey; Dybala, Ronaldo

Juventus bench: Buffon, Pinsoglio, Demiral, Frabotta, McKennie, Portanova, Nicolussi Caviglia, Morata, Douglas Costa, Vrioni

Napoli starting XI: TBA

HOW TO WATCH

Television: RAI Italia North America (United States); RAI Italia North America, TLN (Canada); Premier Sports 1 (United Kingdom); Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport Serie A (Italy)

Online/mobile: ESPN+ (United States); DAZN (Canada); Premier Player HD (United Kingdom); SKY Go Italia (Italy)

Other live viewing options can be found here, and as always, you can also follow along with us live and all the stupid things we say on Twitter. If you haven’t already, join the community on Black & White & Read All Over, and join in the discussion below.