Sabasports Match Preview
Italian Serie A: Napoli vs Torino
Kickoff Time: 2024-03-09 03:45 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Ciro De Luca
Since Francesco Calzona took over as the head coach of Napoli, their
overall performance has shown significant improvement. In their most recent
Serie A match, Napoli secured a 2-1 victory over Juventus at home, marking
their second consecutive league win. Francesco Calzona is an Italian coach who
previously served as an assistant under former Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti
during the 2021-2022 season. This prior experience with the club has provided
him with a familiarity with Napoli and their dynamics. Calzona has continued to
deploy the 4-3-3 formation, utilizing the speed and explosiveness of Victor
Osimhen to put pressure on the opponent’s defense and create space for Khvicha
Kvaratskhelia. The midfield trio’s versatility and control of the ball have
also played a crucial role in maintaining possession and opening up
opportunities for the attacking players. Since taking charge, Calzona has led
Napoli in a total of four games, achieving two wins and two draws, thereby
remaining unbeaten.
Torino, as a veteran team in Serie A, have been performing
inconsistently and have hovered around the middle of the league in recent
years. In their most recent Serie A match, Torino played to a goalless draw
against Fiorentina at home, extending their win-less streak to three league
rounds. Currently, Torino sit in 10th place in the Serie A standings with a
record of nine wins, 10 draws, and eight losses. They are not under immediate
relegation pressure, but their chances of competing for a European spot are
slim, leading to a lack of clear objectives and motivation for them. Torino
have traditionally been known as defensively oriented. In the current season,
they have scored a total of 25 goals while conceding the same number. Their
offensive output has been relatively weak, but their defense has been solid.
Their main characteristic is a lack of offensive firepower combined with a
strong defensive setup. Furthermore, Torino’s away performance has been
relatively poor. In their last five away matches, they have managed only one
win, two draws, and two losses. This indicates a struggle to perform
consistently and effectively on the road.
There is a clear disparity in overall strength and recent form between
Napoli and Torino. Napoli have demonstrated superiority in all aspects of the
game. Additionally, Torino’s away win rate this season stands at a meager
23.0%, indicating their struggles on the road. Conversely, Napoli have shown an
upward trajectory since the coaching change. Considering these factors, it is
reasonable to have higher expectations for Napoli in this match.
Napoli’s Last 5 Games: WWDDD
24-03-04 Napoli 2-1 Juventus
24-02-29 Sassuolo 1-6 Napoli
24-02-25 Cagliari 1-1 Napoli
24-02-22 Napoli 1-1 Barcelona
24-02-17 Napoli 1-1 Genoa
Torino’s Last 5 Games: DLLWD
24-03-03 Torino 0-0 Fiorentina
24-02-27 Roma 3-2 Torino
24-02-23 Torino 0-2 Lazio
24-02-17 Torino 2-0 Lecce
24-02-11 Sassuolo 1-1 Torino
Head To Head Record:
24-01-07 Torino 3-0 Napoli
23-03-19 Torino 0-4 Napoli
22-10-01 Napoli 3-1 Torino
22-05-07 Torino 0-1 Napoli
21-10-17 Napoli 1-0 Torino
Prediction: Napoli to win