Napoli secured a vital 2-1 victory over Torino at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with early and second-half goals sealing three crucial Serie A points.
Napoli claimed a hard-fought 2-1 triumph against Torino at home on Friday evening. Dominance from the outset and a decisive second-half strike secured all three points for the hosts, keeping their Serie A ambitions firmly on track.
Entering the match, Napoli stood third in the Serie A table with 53 points, aiming to solidify their Champions League spot. Torino, in fourteenth position with 30 points, sought to improve their mid-table standing. Both sides needed a result at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The home side asserted control early, rewarding their fans in the seventh minute. A precise pass from Leonardo Spinazzola found Alisson Santos. Santos then clinically drilled the ball past Torino goalkeeper Alberto Paleari to give Napoli the lead.
Napoli maintained relentless pressure throughout the first half, dictating play. They showed strong offensive intent, registering nine shots on target. Torino struggled to create significant chances, often pinned back in their own half by the hosts.
At the interval, Napoli held a deserved one-goal advantage. Torino manager Ivan Juric likely called for more initiative and composure from his side. Meanwhile, Napoli aimed to extend their lead to prevent a late comeback.
The second half began with tactical changes as Napoli introduced A. Vergara. Torino responded with a double substitution in the 57th minute, bringing on D. Zapata and R. Obrador. They sought to inject fresh energy into their attack.
Torino's frustration grew evident as G. Gineitis and A. Ismajli received yellow cards in quick succession around the 63rd minute. This tension saw Napoli capitalize further. They doubled their lead just minutes later.
In the 68th minute, Eljif Elmas fired home Napoli's second goal of the night. Matteo Politano provided the crucial assist. This extended the home side's advantage, providing a comfortable cushion as the game progressed.
With the game seemingly settled, Torino found a lifeline in the 87th minute. Substitute Cesare Casadei, assisted by C. Adams, slotted a goal past Vanja Milinković-Savić. This late strike set up a nervy final few minutes.
Napoli’s statistical dominance underlined their win. They finished with 64% possession and 13 total shots, 9 of which were on target. Their expected goals (xG) stood at 1.27, compared to Torino's 0.37. Torino goalkeeper Paleari made seven saves, preventing a larger defeat.
Ultimately, Napoli held firm to secure a valuable 2-1 victory. This result solidifies their third-place standing. Torino, despite a late surge, remains in fourteenth position, needing more consistent performances in their upcoming fixtures.
