Napoli Secure Victory Against Torino Despite Late Scare at Maradona
Naples, 6 March 2026
Napoli defeated Torino 2-1 in a thrilling Serie A encounter that saw Kevin De Bruyne make his long-awaited return after 132 days out with injury. Antonio Conte’s side dominated possession with 64% and registered nine shots on target, with Alisson Santos opening the scoring in the seventh minute and Elmas doubling the lead against his former club. The victory maintains Napoli’s third-place position, keeping them 14 points behind Inter but crucially five points ahead of fifth-placed Como. Torino’s late consolation goal from Casadei ensured a nervy finish, whilst the match was overshadowed by an early injury to Vergara who was substituted due to a foot problem.
Early Drama Sets the Tone
The match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona began with immediate concern as Antonio Vergara was forced off due to a foot injury, with Anguissa coming on as his replacement [3]. This early substitution proved fortuitous for Napoli, as Anguissa was making his first appearance since suffering an injury against Bologna on 9 November 2025 [3]. The Brazilian forward Alisson Santos then gave the home side the perfect start, finding the net in the seventh minute to put Napoli ahead [3]. The goal continued Alisson’s impressive recent form, having previously scored against Roma on 15 February 2026 [3].
Napoli’s Tactical Dominance
Antonio Conte’s tactical approach proved highly effective as Napoli controlled proceedings throughout the evening. The Partenopei dominated possession with 64.2% of the ball compared to Torino’s 35.8%, whilst registering nine shots on target to their opponents’ four [2]. Napoli’s passing accuracy reached 87.3% from 621 total passes, significantly outperforming Torino’s 78.3% accuracy from 346 passes [2]. The home side also excelled in the final third, completing 98 successful passes in advanced areas compared to Torino’s mere 37 [2]. This statistical superiority reflected Napoli’s current league position of third place with 53 points, maintaining a crucial five-point buffer over fifth-placed Como [1][3].
De Bruyne’s Emotional Return
The evening’s most poignant moment came in the 78th minute when Kevin De Bruyne made his return to competitive football, entering the pitch 132 days after suffering an injury against Inter on 25 October 2025 [3]. Speaking before the match, Conte acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding both De Bruyne and Anguissa’s fitness levels, stating: ‘How many minutes do De Bruyne and Anguissa have in them? Hard to say, there’s a lot to assess, it’s their first week training with us; it’s difficult to make evaluations, but if they’re on the bench it means they’re available’ [3]. The Belgian midfielder’s return provides a significant boost for Napoli’s ambitions, particularly as they sit 14 points behind league leaders Inter [1].
Late Drama and Final Whistle
Elmas doubled Napoli’s advantage in the 68th minute, scoring against his former club to seemingly secure the victory [3]. However, Torino refused to capitulate, with Casadei pulling a goal back in the 87th minute to set up a tense finale [3]. Despite this late scare, Napoli held on to secure three vital points in their pursuit of Champions League qualification. The match also featured entertainment beyond football, with Sal Da Vinci performing at the Maradona stadium [3]. For Torino, the defeat represented a setback following their encouraging 2-0 victory against Lazio on 1 March 2026, which had marked Roberto D’Aversa’s first win as manager [1]. D’Aversa had expressed optimism before the match, noting: ‘Simeone and Zapata have shown they can play together, both strikers scored against Lazio and I try to make use of the emotional aspect as well’ [3].