Altafini comes off the bench to score against Napoli in 1975

Napoli lost 2-0 at Juventus on Sunday 1 November, with goals from Alajbegovic and Boga. After ten rounds they are eighth on 14 points.

A familiar face

The player was Altafini, and Napoli knew him well. He had been part of the side that finished second in 1967-68, alongside Zoff, Sívori and Juliano. He and the club then went separate ways, and by 1975 he was playing for Juventus.

That Napoli side was also in the race. Ferlaino had been president since 18 January 1969 and Vinício was the coach. The 1974-75 season would end with Napoli in second place. The April meeting between the two contenders was decisive for the scudetto (the Serie A title).

The goal and the nickname

Altafini started on the bench. He came on and scored the goal that made it 2-1, against the club he had once played for. Since then he has been known in Naples as the 'core 'ngrato' (Neapolitan for 'ungrateful heart').

Altafini summed up his own view of the split in a single sentence.

"It was Napoli who sent me away."

Napoli had to wait another 12 seasons for the title. It came in 1986-87.

From Altafini to Higuaín

The nickname stayed with Altafini, but he was not the last Napoli player to move to Juventus. In 2016 Higuaín went to Turin after his release clause was paid.

Fifty-one years after that goal, Napoli left Turin without scoring. They managed one shot on target to Juventus's four and played with ten men after Marianucci was sent off.

Napoli now face Porto at the Dragão in the Champions League on Wednesday 4 November. On Sunday 8 November Lazio, top of the table, come to the Diego Armando Maradona. The fans want answers, and those two games are where Napoli have to give them.