It’s an immutable law of football that a player will always score against their former side, and nowhere is that more true than the case of Gonzalo Higuain and Napoli.
The striker was a hero for the Partenopei faithful, scoring 36 goals in 35 games in 2015-16 as Maurizio Sarri’s side mounted a Scudetto challenge.
That summer though Juventus activated his release clause, taking him to Turin for a fee of €90m.
It’s an immutable law of football that a player will always score against their former side, and nowhere is that more true than the case of Gonzalo Higuain and Napoli.
The striker was a hero for the Partenopei faithful, scoring 36 goals in 35 games in 2015-16 as Maurizio Sarri’s side mounted a Scudetto challenge.
That summer though Juventus activated his release clause, taking him to Turin for a fee of €90m.
It was an unforgivable transfer in the eyes of the Neapolitan fans, and Pipita has continued to add insult to injury ever since.
Higuain’s first reunion with his former side came in Turin on October 29, 2016 and naturally he scored the winner with 20 minutes to play.
The Argentine refused to celebrate after making it 2-1, but it did nothing to mend the bridges with the fans who used to adore him.
Napoli actually took the lead at the Juventus Stadium in that year’s Coppa Italia semi-final, but were pegged back by Paulo Dybala’s penalty.
Once again Higuain found the back of the net to put Juve ahead, before another penalty gave the hosts a 3-1 win.
Higuain didn’t score on his return to the San Paolo in April 2017, with the teams fighting out a 1-1 draw.
Three days later though his brace in Naples in the Coppa Italia second leg knocked out the Partenopei.
Napoli and Juventus have already met once this season, with Maurizio Sarri’s side unbeaten going into December’s clash at the San Paolo.
Higuain had hand surgery in the week preceding the match, with speculation that he wouldn’t be fit to play.
With 12 minutes on the clock, Douglas Costa burst through midfield, before slipping the ball to Dybala.
La Joya surged forward, before looking up and picking out a teammate in the box. Naturally, that teammate was his compatriot, Higuain.
Kalidou Koulibaly tried desperately to make a block, but it was too late. Higuain slipped the ball past Reina for what proved to be the winner.
Five games, five goals. If Napoli are to take a crucial win in Turin tonight, stopping their former teammate will be top priority.