Serie A | Gameweek 14

Dec 1, 2024 at 2pm UK

Allianz Stadium

Torinovs.Napoli

Match preview

Back at the top of Serie A, Napoli spoiled Claudio Ranieri's emotional return to the Roma hot seat last week with a 1-0 victory in the first Derby del Sole of the season.

After dominating possession and territory throughout the clash at the Stadio Maradona, Antonio Conte's side were rewarded when former Roma striker Romelu Lukaku converted Giovanni Di Lorenzo's cross early in the second half.

Napoli's latest success means they have now kept eight clean sheets in Europe's top five leagues, only behind shutout specialists Juventus (10), and they have conceded just once in the first half of away games ahead of the trip to Turin.

One of six teams separated by four points in the crowded Scudetto race, the Azzurri have won eight of their nine home league and cup games since Conte took charge, but despite their defensive prowess, they have been less successful away from home.

Now they have a chance to improve on their away form, as they travel to Rome to take on Lazio with a place in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia at stake.

Napoli may have lost their last meeting with Toro at the Stadio Olimpico Grande - 3-0 in January - but they have won seven of the previous eight encounters and will start as strong favourites.

In fact, Torino went unbeaten against Napoli last season after losing five in a row, so they will be looking to go three games without defeat against their Campanian counterparts for the first time since 2012.

However, recent form suggests that this may be a tall order, with Paolo Vanoli's side having last tasted success in October and slipping into the bottom half of the Serie A table.

After taking 11 points from their opening five matches, the Rossoneri have taken just four from their last eight, with only rock-bottom Venezia collecting fewer points in that time.

The Granata went into the international break on the back of three successive defeats, including another Derby della Mole loss to city rivals Juventus, and were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Monza last weekend.

Already out of the Coppa Italia after a home defeat to Empoli, Vanoli's men are lacking both goals and confidence, and when they face former Italy and Chelsea boss Conte, the ex-Venezia boss will be expecting no favours.

Recent Performance

Torino Serie A form:LWLLLD

Napoli Serie A form:WWWLDW

Team News

Napoli's only absentee is expected to be reserve full-back Pasquale Mazzocchi, who suffered a leg injury last time out, meaning Antonio Conte could name an unchanged starting XI on Sunday.

Freed from the need to rotate after the Azzurri missed out on European qualification last season, he has largely named the same back four, with Scott McTominay supporting a familiar front three with runs from midfield.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, reportedly a target for Manchester United, will join Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku in the final third, with the latter hoping to add to his tally of nine Serie A goals against Torino.

Alessandro Buongiorno, who came through Toro's Primavera before making 99 league appearances for the club, will lead the visitors' defence on his return to the Stadio Olimpico Grande.

Perr Schuurs and Duvan Zapata, who are at different stages of their recovery from ACL injuries, are unavailable for the hosts, but Ivan Ilic could be back in contention after recovering from a hamstring problem.

In attack, Che Adams should link up with Antonio Sanabria, who has scored in three of his last four Serie A appearances against Napoli, including both games last season.

Possible starting lineup

Torino possible starting lineup:

Milinkovic-Savic; Walukiewicz, Coco, Masina; Pedersen, Vlasic, Ricci, Gineitis, Lazaro; Adams, Sanabria

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia