Napoli winger Dries Mertens. (Photo : Getty Images)
Contending squad SSC Napoli (9-3-4, 31 points) will look to extend a five-game unbeaten run as they square off with reeling contenders Torino FC (7-5-4, 25 points) at the San Paolo Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 18 in a 2016-2017 Serie A season match.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 2:45 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Napoli has been undefeated in the past five rounds to climb to the fourth spot of the Italian top flight table. The team currently holds one of the two Europa League qualifying berths for next season and is only a point below AC Milan, who has the final Champions League spot for next year.
In their most recent fixture last Sunday, Gli Azzurri demolished newly-promoted team Cagliari, 5-0, on the road at the Sant'Elia Stadium, as per Daily Mail Online.
Belgian winger Dries Mertens unleashed a hat trick to help head coach Maurizio Sarri's squad complete its five-goal masterpiece.
Mertens opened the scoring in the 34th minute before team captain Marek Hamsik doubled the lead right at the stroke of halftime.
Polish midfielder Piotr Zielinski made it a 3-0 count six minutes after the restart with a right-footed shot from outside the box off a pass by Hamsik. Mertens then sealed the win with two goals in the 69th and 72nd minutes.
Meanwhile, Torino suffered its second straight defeat after they were defeated by defending champions Juventus, 1-3, at their home ground of Olimpico di Torino last Sunday, The Guardian reported.
Italian striker Andrea Belotti netted the first goal of the match in the 16th minute for Il Toro with a header from the center of the box off a cross from teammate Daniele Baselli.
However, it proved to be the lone goal of the contest for head coach Siniša Mihajlović's side as Juve scored the next three goals, courtesy of a brace by Gonzalo Higuaín in the 28th and 82nd minutes and one goal from Miralem Pjanic in stoppage time.
With the loss, Torino dropped to the eighth spot of the league table, six points below Napoli.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 3-1 victory by Napoli.
Napoli starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Reina; Strinic, Maksimovic, Chiriches, Soderlund; Hamsik, Zielinski, Jorginho; Insigne, Callejon, Mertens
Torino starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Hart; Barreca, Castan, Rossettini, Zappacosta; Baselli, Benassi, Valdifiori; Ljajic, Falque, Belotti
