In a dramatic Serie A clash that left fans on the edge of their seats, Giovanni Simeone delivered a heart-wrenching blow to his former club, Napoli, as Torino secured a 1-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino on October 18, 2025. But here's where it gets controversial—was it Simeone's brilliance or Napoli's misfortune that decided the game? Let's dive in.
Both teams entered the match with significant injury concerns. Napoli, in particular, was decimated, missing key players like Scott McTominay, Rasmus Hojlund, and Romelu Lukaku, among others. Matteo Politano and Alessandro Buongiorno were also far from fully fit, forcing manager Billy Gilmour to rely on substitutes like Juan Jesus, Lorenzo Lucca, and David Neres. Torino, meanwhile, had their own absentees, including Zakaria Aboukhlal and Ivan Ilic, though Ardian Ismajli was available on the bench. The emotional undertones were palpable, with Simeone and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic facing their former clubs.
The game started with a bang, as Nikola Vlasic came agonizingly close to giving Torino the lead in the 15th minute. His angled shot beat Milinkovic-Savic but struck the inside of the post, leaving the crowd in disbelief. Napoli responded through Kevin De Bruyne, whose free kick tested Franco Israel, and a deflected curler nearly found the net after a Marcus Pedersen error. Matias Olivera also had a golden opportunity but failed to convert from six yards out.
And this is the part most people miss—the turning point came when Billy Gilmour's error allowed Simeone to break the offside trap. With sheer determination, Simeone sent both Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Milinkovic-Savic to the ground before slotting home from a tight angle. The former Napoli man, who had confessed to crying for hours after leaving the club, waved an apology to the away fans. It was a moment of both triumph and heartbreak.
Torino nearly doubled their lead moments later, as Pedersen fired over after a Simeone pass took an awkward bounce, and Sam Beukema's strike narrowly missed the target. Napoli fought back, with Che Adams' effort deflected onto the side-netting and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa's header tipped over by Israel. De Bruyne and Noa Lang also came close, but Milinkovic-Savic stood firm.
As the game entered stoppage time, Napoli thought they had equalized in spectacular fashion. Matteo Politano's curler hit the post, rebounded off Israel's back, and was turned in by Noa Lang from close range. However, VAR intervened, ruling Lang offside from Politano's initial shot. The goal was disallowed, sparking debates about the fine margins that decide matches.
Was VAR the real hero or villain of this match? And could Napoli have salvaged a point with a fully fit squad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. One thing is certain—Simeone's emotional return and decisive goal will be remembered for years to come.
