Torino vs Napoli prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-01-06 14:00.
Torino suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to Fiorentina in their last match of 2023 which ended an otherwise unbeaten December for the European qualification hopefuls (W2, D2). Despite that defeat, confidence will be high in securing an immediate response as only once in this Serie A (SA) campaign have Il Toro lost consecutive games, with those coming against the current top-two sides. Improving upon their final output still remains their biggest challenge though, as only Empoli (ten) have scored fewer league goals than Ivan Jurić’s side (15) ahead of the round.
Starting 2024 at home could be a blessing to overcome their scoring woes as Torino have at least scored in each of their last four home league games (W3, D1). Each of those three wins saw the hosts take the lead within the opening half an hour and another quick start could ease the nerves here.
To say that this season has been a disappointing one for defending champions Napoli would be an understatement, as only twice in the last 16 top-flight seasons have they earned fewer points at this stage. A goalless draw against Monza to finish 2023 meant that they’ve now obtained just one victory from their last five league games (D1, L3), giving them a perfect reason to want to start afresh.
A return to the road might not be the worst thing for the visitors, as although the Neapolitans have lost their last two away league games, a run of four straight travelling SA wins prior to those defeats suggest that Walter Mazzarri’s side could be a tricky opponent here. Napoli also seemingly enjoy reserving their best for this venue too, having won seven of their last eight SA away H2Hs (D1), keeping five clean sheets in that sequence.
Players to watch: Duván Zapata has scored his last four league goals at this venue for Torino and has six contributions (G3, A3) in his last eight SA personal H2Hs. Napoli’s threat could come from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with three of his last four league goals coming on the road, to go with his three contributions (G2, A1) in last season’s H2H wins.
Hot stat: Napoli are one of the two SA sides yet to drop a point after taking the lead at any stage of a game ahead of this round.