NAPLES, Italy (Interstat) — Napoli opened its Serie A campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Torino on Friday afternoon, overcoming a late scare to secure three points at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The match, which kicked off the 2025-26 Italian league season for both clubs, defied a pregame projection from Interstat that forecast a 1-1 draw. Their ELO system had given Napoli a 67.9 percent probability to win.

The home side started brightly and was rewarded almost immediately. In just the seventh minute, midfielder Alisson Santos broke the deadlock, firing Napoli into an early lead and settling any early-season nerves among the home supporters. The goal set a dominant tone for Napoli’s first half, though they were unable to extend their advantage before the break.

Torino emerged from halftime with more purpose, but the match’s complexion shifted in a frantic two-minute span just past the hour mark. In the 63rd minute, Torino substitute Gvidas Gineitis was shown a yellow card, followed swiftly by a booking for Napoli substitute Ardian Ismajli in the 64th.

The flurry of cautions preceded the equalizer. Just four minutes later, in the 68th minute, Torino’s Eljif Elmas found the net, capitalizing on a spell of pressure to level the score at 1-1. The goal, assisted by Gineitis, validated Torino’s improved second-half performance and threatened to see the visitors leave with a point.

Napoli responded with urgency. Another substitute, Valentino Lazaro, entered the book in the 73rd minute as the match grew increasingly tense. The decisive moment arrived with just three minutes remaining in regulation. Napoli’s own impactful substitute, Cesare Casadei, completed a swift attacking move, slotting home the winning goal in the 87th minute. The assist was credited to Ismajli, who atoned for his earlier booking with a key contribution.

The final whistle confirmed a winning start for Napoli, which begins the season with a victory. Torino, despite a resilient performance that nearly validated the statistical draw projection, heads home empty-handed.

With the result, Napoli’s record in Serie A stands at one win and zero losses, while its overall record across all competitions is identical. Torino’s record in the league and overall now sits at zero wins and one loss. Both teams will continue their Serie A schedules next weekend.