Montella backs two-way title battle

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella is tipping Juventus and Napoli to battle it out for the Serie A title.

Montella’s side have started the season promisingly but trail the pair by eight points after the first seven league games.

He claims the competitiveness Antonio Conte has instilled in the Turin side makes the defending champions formidable opposition.

“Conte created a team that believes in what he does, plays with great fury, and maintains it for 95 minutes,” the former Roma striker told Corriere dello Sport.

The 38-year-old has also been impressed with the start Napoli have made, despite them not always hitting top gear.

“When a team wins with minimal effort it is a great sign. Napoli have also won against Fiorentina, which for me is a sign of a team that can compete for the title,” he added.