Preview: Napoli vs. Torino - prediction, team news, lineups

In the opening game of the weekend in Italy, the hosts will hope they can take some positive momentum into their clash away with Barcelona in the Champions League next week.

Match preview

After the dismal reign of Walter Mazzarri, Slovakia boss Calzona has come in and improved matters instantly, even if he is still papering over some cracks.

A 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the first leg of that last 16 tie in Calzona's first game in charge certainly looked like a side that had spent barely 24 hours with their new manager, as the Spaniards were dominant for long spells.

The tie remains alive though, and even though Napoli also failed to beat Cagliari a few days later thanks to a 96th-minute equaliser, their last two results have been very impressive.

Victor Osimhen's hat trick helped them a 6-1 demolition of Sassuolo, before the Partenopei beat a fading Juventus side 2-1 at the Maradona on Sunday night.

Even though Dusan Vlahovic was guilty of missing numerous brilliant chances for the Old Lady, Napoli still got over the line for a hugely important three points thanks to Giacomo Raspadori's late winner, on the rebound from Osimhen's missed penalty.

Top four is likely beyond Napoli unless they can end the season with a phenomenal set of results, as an eight-point gap has opened up between themselves and Bologna, but sitting in seventh means there is a strong chance they will be playing some form of European football next season.

Next up is Torino, who inflicted one of the worst results on Napoli during Mazzarri's tenure, beating them 3-0 in Turin at the start of the year.

That result was the start of a fine six-game stretch for Ivan Juric's side where they took 12 points from a possible 18, and looked likely to threaten the European places.

Fourth and eleventh were easily interchangeable just a few weeks ago, but gaps have begun to open up and the table is beginning to take shape with the final few weeks on the horizon.

A rapid falloff for Torino has contributed to that, as one point from their last three games, which all came against fellow European rivals, has seen them lose touch with the top eight.

Defeats to the two clubs from the capital in Roma and Lazio, and a draw with Fiorentina on Saturday means Torino are now six points adrift of their upcoming opponents heading into this encounter.

It is clear where their problems lie too, as only three teams have scored less goals, and they fired another blank in that draw with La Viola, as mid-table mediocrity looks likely for the Granata this season.

Napoli Serie A form:

W

L

D

D

W

W

Napoli form (all competitions):

L

D

D

D

W

W

Torino Serie A form:

D

D

W

L

L

D

Team News

Napoli will be stressing over the fitness of Amir Rrahmani after the Kosovan defender was forced off with a muscular problem in the win over Juventus.

Jens Cajuste and Cyril Ngonge are also sidelined for the hosts, restricting their ability to potentially rotate ahead of the Barca clash.

Osimhen is set to lead the line again as he looks to build on the momentum he has enjoyed over the past few weeks, with five goals in four games, despite missing a penalty against Juve, which was eventually turned in by Raspadori.

Torino will be without young Serbian Ivan Ilic here after the midfielder was forced off inside 10 minutes of their clash with Fiorentina due to a knee injury.

Ilic's replacement Samuele Ricci will also be unavailable though, as he came on and was sent off inside the first 45 minutes, so will serve his one-match suspension here.

While Napoli will be without a Kosovan defender in Rrahmani, Torino will also miss one of their own, with Mergim Vojvoda currently injured, joining Perr Schuurs, Matteo Lovato and Adrien Tameze on the treatment table.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Natan, Juan Jesus, Mazzocchi; Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

Torino possible starting lineup:

Milinkovic-Savic; Djidji, Buongiorno, Rodriguez; Bellanova, Linetty, Gineitis, Vlasic, Masina; Sanabria, Zapata

We say: Napoli 2-0 Torino

While there is no doubt Napoli have rode their luck at times since Calzona took charge, the new boss is picking up results, and they should go into that clash in Barcelona full of confidence with a third straight victory here.

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