Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Prediction: Torino vs Napoli

Juan Pablo Aravena in Free Soccer Predictions, Serie A 15 Dec 2017

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Verdict: Both teams to score – yes

Best Odds: 8/13

Bookmaker: 888sport

Napoli have been struggling in recent weeks, but they remain near the top of the Serie A standings and should be considered a real title contender. They will try to close the gap with Inter Milan this Saturday, as they will take on Torino. The game will start at 17:00 hrs BST.

Torino

Torino sit in the middle of the standings with 23 points after 16 matches, but there is no question they have trending in the right direction of late. They are coming off a huge 3-1 win over Lazio at Stadio Olimpico, and that result proved they can be a threat to any team in the league thanks to their impressive attacking power. After all. they have 22 goals scored, but one of their problems has been a defensive line that has conceded the same amount of goals thus far. And that’s not a good sign considering they will face one of the top teams in the competition. Torino certainly have enough weapons to pull an upset, and their recent form backs them up. They are riding a six-game undefeated run in Serie A, a span where they defeated Lazio and drew against Inter and AC Milan. Can they pull another upset, this time against the second-placed team in the standings?

Team News

Torino have two confirmed absences ahead of this match. Cristian Ansaldi (thigh) and Sadiq Umar (muscular) have been ruled out.

Kevin Bonifazi and M’Baye Niang (both muscular) are doubtful, and will require a late-fitness test to determine their availability.

Napoli

Napoli are currently riding a two-game winless streak in the Serie A, but that has not stopped them from being one of the best sides in the competition thus far. They are coming off a scoreless draw against Fiorentina and also lost 0-1 to Juventus, marking the first time in quite a while that they have gone two straight league games without scoring. But Napoli are just too talented to keep such a negative streak going. They have one of the most prolific attacking lines in the Serie A since they have scored 35 goals in 16 matches, and need to get back to their early-season form if they don’t want to fall far behind on the title race. They already lost the top spot in the standings to Inter, so a win here against Torino would do wonders for the team’s morale. Napoli have a pretty good away record though, registering seven wins and one draw in eight matches away from Stadio San Paolo.

Team News

Napoli will have a huge absence since Lorenzo Insigne remains sidelined due to an injury sustained in the game vs Juventus.

Faouzi Ghoulam (knee) and Arkadiusz Milik (knee) remain out as well. Both are nursing long-term injuries.

Key Factors to Consider

  • Napoli have the best away record in the Serie A, with seven wins and just one draw in eight matches away from Stadio San Paolo.
  • Torino have a decent record at home, though. They have W2 D4 and L1 in seven matches.
  • Napoli also have a lot of balance on both ends of the pitch. They have the third-best attack (35 goals scored) and the best defence (10 conceded).
  • Torino are riding a six-game unbeaten streak in Serie A play, with two wins and four draws.
  • Napoli have won the last four games against Torino.

Conclusion

Napoli have been one of the top teams in the Serie A this season and even though the absence of Insigne should represent a blow to the team’s attacking line, they still have a lot of talent upfront. On the other hand, Torino have a decent amount of attacking weapons themselves. And it remains to be seen whether Napoli can find a way to contain Andrea Belotti.

It is going to be an open match, and both sides are expected to score at least once.

Verdict: Both teams to score – yes

Best Odds: 8/13

Bookmaker: 888sport

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Juan Pablo Aravena


A freelance writer and sports analyst with almost five years of experience in the industry before joining SoccerNews, Juan Pablo Aravena is based in Chile and currently contributes to several publications and websites including SoccerNews, 12up, and Sports From The Basement, while also working as a fantasy beat writer for RotoWire, as a database editor for EA Sports, and as a football analyst for SmartOdds and InsideFutbol. His areas of focus are Serie A, Bundesliga, Premier League, LaLiga, and Ligue 1, but he has also written about MLS and South American football in the past.

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