Torino 4-1 Catania

Torino secured their first victory since the end of September after a convincing 4-1 victory over Catania at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

Giampiero Ventura decided to keep faith with goalkeeper Danielle Padelli, whilst captain Kamil Glik was again left on the bench with Cesare Bovo being preferred. In midfield, Alexander Farnerud and Migjen Basha were surprise selections, whilst Omar El Kaddouri, Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci formed an exciting trio in attack.

An excellent turn and shot from Ciro Immobile almost gave Toro a lead within the opening couple of minutes, but he was denied by Mariano Andujar. From the resulting corner, Immobile hit the bar with a header, and then Emiliano Moretti somehow volleyed over from close range.

However, Torino deservedly went ahead in the tenth minute after former Juventus defender Nicola Legrottaglie somehow lost his footing, and that allowed Immobile to go through on goal before calmly finishing past Andujar.

The former Genoa striker was having an enjoyable afternoon, and he should have doubled Toro's lead when he received an excellent through ball from Omar El Kaddouri, and then rounded the goalkeeper - but he was unable to finish from a difficult angle.

But Toro were able to double their advantage sixty seconds later, when a mistimed interception by Tiberio Guarente set the ball up perfectly for El Kaddouri, and the Moroccan international scored his first goal for the club with ease.

The away side got a goal back five minutes after the break when substitute Sebastian Leto's left footed shot looped over Padelli and into the net. The Granata were particularly upset at this goal, as they felt they should have been awarded a penalty moments earlier when Jaroslav Plašil fouled El Kaddouri in the area.

However, Torino re-established their two goal advantage ten minutes later when Alessio Cerci's corner was glanced home by the veteran defender Emiliano Moretti. And two minutes later the result was put beyond any doubt when El Kaddouri scored his second goal of the game after Immobile's initial shot was saved.

Toro had opportunities to make the scoreline more impressive, but top scorer Alessio Cerci twice decided to go for goal himself despite the fact a simple pass would have given a team mate a simple tap in.

This was a much needed result for Torino, and will hopefully kick start a season that had began in impressive fashion. Toro's next two fixtures against Genoa and Lazio are both winnable games, and positive results in those fixtures could alter the narrative of Toro's campaign dramatically.

Forza Toro!