Napoli’s aspirations for retaining their Serie A title took a significant hit following a 3-0 defeat against Torino. The match, held on Sunday, witnessed Torino’s ascendancy into the top 10, courtesy of goals from Antonio Sanabria, Nikola Vlasic, and Alessandro Buongiorno.
Napoli’s recent form has been concerning, with the team securing only one victory in their last six league matches. This slump has seen them drop to ninth place in the standings, accumulating 28 points. They now find themselves 20 points adrift of the league leaders, Inter Milan, and are just a single point ahead of Torino at the season’s midpoint. Follow your favourite Serie A team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet.
The game took a decisive turn when Napoli, reduced to 10 men, struggled to keep up. Pasquale Mazzocchi, who recently transferred from Salernitana, received a red card for a high-boot challenge on Valentino Lazaro. This incident occurred merely five minutes into Mazzocchi’s debut.
Torino’s head coach, Ivan Juric, spoke to DAZN, acknowledging the victory’s significance but also noting the easier circumstances following the sending-off. Juric reflected on past matches and emphasized the need for the team to continue their hard work and belief in their abilities.
Torino’s breakthrough came just before halftime. A free kick by Ivan Ilic, deflected by Duvan Zapata, set up Sanabria for a swift finish. Sanabria, who recently extended his contract with Torino, expressed his joy and gratitude for the club’s support.
In the second half, Torino doubled its lead through Vlasic, who skillfully created and executed a scoring opportunity. Later, Buongiorno’s header from Lazaro’s corner kick sealed Torino’s first triumph over Napoli since 2015.
Looking ahead, Napoli aims to recover from this setback in their upcoming match against Salernitana, currently at the bottom of the standings. On the other hand, Torino, buoyed by this victory, will seek to maintain their momentum in their next game against Genoa. Get the latest updates from the Serie A only on Nextbet Sports.
