Cameroonian shines as Napoli hold their fort and the Serie A summit

Napoli defeated Torino 3-1 to remain top of the Serie A table after an unbeaten start to the campaign. Gli Azzurri have now claimed victory in four of their five competitive fixtures at home this season.

Debuting their bat-themed Halloween kit, Napoli got off to a frighteningly quick start as André-Frank Zambo Anguissa netted his first two league goals of the season. With just six minutes on the clock, Mário Rui’s lofted cross found Anguissa, whose towering header left Vanja Milinković-Savić rooted to the spot. Minutes later, the visitors were carved wide open by a direct run from the goalscorer, who carried the ball all the way from his own half, before drilling low from close range to make it 2-0 inside 15 minutes.

Gli Azzurri continued to pepper the Torino goal as the half progressed and added a third through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia when, much like Anguissa, he picked the ball up near the halfway line and carried it unchallenged before sweeping home - the Georgian’s fifth goal of the Serie A campaign. However, unwilling to throw in the towel before half time, Ivan Jurić’s side pulled one back as Alex Meret failed to divert Antonio Sanabria’s effort beyond the post. A goal-laden first half almost ended with a fifth, but Sanabria’s headed attempt sailed narrowly wide.

Napoli looked to re-establish their three goal lead after the interval, and following consultation with VAR, had a penalty appeal from Piotr Zieliński turned away just before the hour mark. Remarkably, Torino remained very much in the contest, winning the midfield battle as they piled the pressure on the hosts. With little over five minutes remaining, Nemanja Radonjić curled a rasping shot towards goal, but Meret was equal to it, denting the visitor’s dwindling hopes of a comeback.

Dogged defending from the home side ultimately held Il Toro at bay as Napoli continue in their pursuit of a first Scudetto in over 30 years. Victory gives Luciano Spalletti’s side a three-point buffer at the top of the table ahead of Atalanta’s meeting with Fiorentina. Meanwhile, after a positive four-game unbeaten start to the season, Torino have now suffered four defeats in their last five league matches.

SERIE A - ROUND 8

Saturday

Napoli - Torino 3-1 (3-1)

/Zambo-Anguissa 6, 12, Kvaratshkelia 37 - Sanabria 44/

19:00: (2.19) Inter (3.50) Roma (3.60)

21:45: (6.25) Empoli (3.80) Milan (1.68)

Sunday

13:30: (1.45) Lazio (4.70) Spezia (8.00)

16:00: (2.19) Lecce (3.40) Cremonese (3.70)

16:00: (2.14) Sassuolo (3.50) Salernitana (3.80)

16:00: (2.35) Sampdoria (3.35) Monza (3.30)

19:00: (2.04) Atalanta (3.50) Fiorentina (4.10)

21:45: (1.58) Juventus (4.20) Bologna (7.00)

Monday

21:45: (3.05) Verona (3.40) Udinese (2.50)

***odds are subject to change***

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