Napoli vs Torino preview - Napoli look to cap great week

Posted Saturday, October 04, 2014 by PA

Napoli will look to pick up where they left off in midweek when they host Torino on Sunday evening.

The Naples outfit go into the encounter at the San Paolo stadium on the back of a 2-0 win at Slovan Bratislava in the Europa League on Thursday.

Goals from Marek Hamsik and Gonzalo Higuain handed the Italians their second win in Group I and helped lift them three points clear of Sparta Prague at the top of the pool.

"I am very satisfied," Napoli coach Rafael Benitez said. "I really liked how my team played and the approach my players had to the game.

"It was an almost perfect performance in a game that could have been tricky."

Napoli, who won 1-0 at Sassuolo last weekend to clinch their second league win, now hope to end a good week on the right foot.

"The team is growing in confidence," Benitez said. "We are on the right path and we must continue with these results.

"My team just has to maintain this focus and approach."

Napoli are eighth in the standings, three points clear of Torino, who are 12th.

However, Benitez will be warning his side not to underestimate a Torino side that also enjoyed success in Europe this week.

The Granata beat FC Copenhagen 1-0 in Turin on Thursday, courtesy of a last-gasp penalty from Fabio Quagliarella.

The outcome was Torino's first win in Group B and left the Turin side level on four points with Club Brugge at the top of the standings.

"We deserved the win and could have taken the lead earlier," Toro coach Giampiero Ventura said. "The important thing was to get three points and it gives me a lot of joy.

"We played a great game and it's fantastic to win in Europe."

Toro, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Fiorentina last weekend, have won just one of their five opening league games.

The hosts are without defender Juan Zuniga as well as midfielder Jorginho, both out injured.