Torino starting XI (3-4-1-2): Milinkovic-Savic, Djidji (subbed for Sazonov), Buongiorno, Rodriguez, Bellanova, Ricci, Ilic (subbed for Gineitis), Lazaro, Vlasic (subbed for Karamoh),
Sanabria (subbed for Seck), Zapata (subbed for Pellegri)
Bench: Gemello, Popa, Zima, Vojvoda, Tameze, Linetty
Goals: Sanabria 43’, Vlasic 52’, Buongiorno 66’
Napoli starting XI (4-3-3): Gollini, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Mario Rui (subbed for Zerbin), Cajuste (subbed for Gaetano), Lobotka, Zielinski (subbed for Mazzocchi), Politano (subbed for Lindstrom), Raspadori (subbed for Simeone), Kvaratskhelia
Bench: Contini, Idasiak, Demme, D’Avino, Zanoli
A horror show for Napoli - that included defender Pasquale Mazzocchi being sent off just four minutes into his debut - left the team ninth in Serie A, 20 points behind league leaders Inter Milan and five below fourth-place Fiorentina.
Napoli look a shadow of the team that thrilled last season. Title-winning coach Luciano Spalletti left at the end of the campaign and his replacement Rudi Garcia was fired in November.
But matters haven’t improved since Walter Mazzarri took over with just three wins in his 10 matches in charge to go with six defeats.
However, Napoli sporting director Mauro Meluso claims Mazzarri’s job is not at risk.
“Mazzarri has the club’s and the team’s utmost confidence, there is no reflection at all on his position,” Meluso said. “Everyone can see that there is a different situation in terms of performance from last year.
“We don’t want to hide and probably there’s also been bad luck to add to our negative period … but we can’t continue like this.”
Mazzarri was suspended for the match in Turin and could only watch from the stands as Antonio Sanabria fired Torino in front at the end of the first half.
Mazzocchi, who joined from Salernitana two days ago, was brought on at halftime and moments later went sliding into a tackle on Valentino Lazaro with a high boot, earning a straight red card.
Nikola Vlašić doubled Torino’s advantage almost immediately and Alessandro Buongiorno scored the third in the 66th.
AAP
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