Torino stunned Serie A leaders Napoli with a hard-fought 1-0 victory, their second win of the campaign, as the reigning champions slumped to their second defeat in three league outings and only their second head-to-head loss to Torino in 21 meetings.
The hosts had shown renewed attacking spirit in their previous 3-3 draw with Lazio, scoring more goals in that single match than in the rest of the season combined.
That momentum nearly carried over early on when Nikola Vlašić’s powerful strike from distance rattled the inside of the post.
Napoli responded with chances of their own, as Franco Israel recovered well after spilling a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick, before the Belgian’s curling effort was deflected narrowly wide.
Giovanni Simeone also volleyed over from close range, missing an opportunity to give the visitors the lead.
However, Simeone made amends just past the half-hour mark, but this time in favour of Torino.
Pouncing on a defensive lapse, he calmly skipped past retreating defenders and rounded Vanja Milinković-Savić to score Torino’s first home goal of the season, sparking wild celebrations at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
Moments later, Torino nearly doubled their advantage, but Milinković-Savić, ironically on loan from Torino, did just enough to unsettle Marcus Holmgren Pedersen during a promising counterattack.
Despite Napoli taking control of possession before halftime, their best effort came through Lorenzo Lucca, whose attempt was comfortably gathered by Israel.
The visitors piled on the pressure late on, with De Bruyne and Matteo Politano both denied by resolute defending. Eljif Elmas then wasted a golden chance by blasting over the bar.
Napoli thought they had rescued a point deep into stoppage time when Politano’s shot rebounded off the post and Israel before falling to Noa Lang, who tapped in — but VAR intervened to rule the goal offside.
The decision sealed Torino’s memorable triumph and condemned Napoli to a third straight away defeat, something they hadn’t suffered since early 2024, while marking Torino’s first home win over the champions in nearly a decade.
