Juventus v Torino Preview

After ending a run of twenty years without beating Juventus back in April, Torino will have renewed optimism ahead of Saturday's Derby della Mole.

The Granata are without a win in four following Wednesday's disappointing draw with Genoa, but face a Juventus side struggling to cope without summer departures of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez.

Therefore, despite Toro's poor recent form, they are still three points and two places above their city rivals. The Bianconeri suffered their fourth defeat of the season in midweek at Sassuolo which lead to experienced goalkeeper Gigi Buffon issuing a rallying cry to his teammates and the squad being placed in Ritiro.

Toro will be without a number of key players with Danilo Avelar, Nikola Maksimovic, Joel Obi Alessandro Gazzi and Josef Martinez all out injured. The toughest choice for Giampiero Ventura may be who partners Fabio Quagliarella up front and whether he goes for the energy of Andrea Belotti or the experience of Maxi Lopez.

Forza Toro

Torino 3-3 Genoa

Torino scored and then conceded in injury time to conclude an error-ridden but highly entertaining 3-3 draw with Genoa on Wednesday night.

With Saturday's derby against Juventus in mind, Giampiero Ventura chose to rest Bruno Peres, Daniele Baselli and Fabio Quagliarella - with Andrea Belotti partnering Maxi Lopez up front.

Genoa took the lead mid-way through the first half when Daniele Padelli misjudged a punched clearance from a deflected cross and that allowed Diego Laxalt to head in.

Toro were back level two minutes later when Ezequiel Munoz failed to deal with a long ball, and fellow Argentine Maxi Lopez nipped in to finish past Mattia Perin.

The Granata took the lead ten minutes before half time with an exquisite goal from Davide Zappacosta as the former Atalanta man volleyed home from outside the area following a corner.

Genoa equalised with twenty minutes remaining when Leonardo Pavoletti received a through ball from substitute Serge Gakpe and finished well to beat Padelli.

Daniele Baselli and Bruno Peres both came off the bench as Toro looked for a winner, and they thought they had one in the 89th minute and once again it arrived in comical fashion. Marco Benassi's header was initially saved by Mattia Perin, but then ricocheted off the knee of former Torino midfielder Panagiotis Tachtsidis before trickling over the line.

However, there was more drama still to come and in the fourth minute of injury time, Genoa scored their equaliser as Diego Perotti's cross was headed home by Laxalt for his second of the game.

Forza Toro!

Torino v Genoa Preview

Torino will look to earn their first victory in three games when they face Genoa on Wednesday evening.

With the derby against Juventus coming up on Saturday, Giampiero Ventura may decide to rest a few players, and that could mean fringe players Sanjin Prcic and Josef Martinez may come into the side.

Genoa have struggled on the road this season, losing four of their five fixtures away from the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, including a 2-0 defeat against Empoli last time out.

However back in May, in the last meeting between the two sides it was Genoa who came out convincing 5-1 winners.

Prediction
Torino 1-1 Genoa

Lazio 3-0 Torino

Torino's disappointing away form continued on Sunday evening as they fell to a 3-0 defeat against in form Lazio.

Andrea Belotti was rewarded for his impressive substitute appearance against AC Milan with a start, whilst Giuseppe Vives was preferred to Alessandro Gazzi in midfield and Bruno Peres returned from injury.

Toro started well and it was Bruno Peres who had their best chance of the half but his half-volley was tipped over the bar by former Toro keeper Federico Marchetti. However, five minutes before half time Toro fell behind when some suspect defending allowed Miroslav Klose to win a header, and the ball fell to Senad Lulic whose scuffed finish somehow beat Daniele Padelli.

Lazio doubled their lead with twenty minutes remaining, and the goal was simplicity at it's best. A long kick from Marchetti was headed on and Klose fed a through ball to Felipe Anderson who calmly finished past Padelli.

In injury time, Felipe Anderson added a third goal from just outside the area which was harsh on Toro - but sealed a third successive away defeat for the Granata.

Forza Toro!

Lazio v Torino Preview

Torino will look to improve their away form when they travel to the capital to face Lazio on Sunday evening.

The Granata have not won on the road since the opening day, and have lost their last two away fixtures against Chievo and Carpi. However, Giampiero Ventura has been able to include Brazilian wing back Bruno Peres in the squad following injury, whilst Ukrainian defender Vasyl Pryima is called up for the first time.

Lazio have won all four of their home league games this season, but did have to play over eighty minutes with ten men in the Europa League on Thursday, so Toro may be able to capitalise on a few tired legs.

Prediction
Lazio 1-1 Torino

Torino 1-1 AC Milan

Torino were once again thankful to Daniele Baselli as they came from behind to earn a point against AC Milan on Sunday evening.

Cristian Molinaro returned from suspension for the home side whilst Afriyie Acquah and Alessandro Gazzi started in midfield instead of Marco Benassi and Giuseppe Vives.

In an uneventful first half, Milan captain Riccardo Montolivo had the best chance but his low drive was well saved by Daniele Padelli.

The rossoneri did take the lead mid-way through the second half after great work from Andrea Bertolacci who crossed the ball for substitute Carlos Bacca to open the scoring.

Daniele Baselli almost scored an immediate equaliser for the Granata, but his low shot whistled past the post with the aid of a deflection from Alex.

Toro brought on striker Andrea Belotti as they tried to get back into the match, and he made an instant impact as he inadvertently diverted the ball into the path of former Atalanta man Baselli who scored from a difficult angle.

The Granata had a great chance to earn all three points after on the counter attack when Acquah found Maxi Lopez in space, but the Argentine striker's effort was saved by Diego Lopez.

Toro had to settle for a point, and thus their 100% home record is now over, but this was probably a fair result.

Forza Toro

Torino V AC Milan Preview

Torino will look to maintain their 100% home record when they host AC Milan on Saturday evening.

The Granata suffered a disappointing defeat against Carpi before the international break, but will have Cristian Molinaro back from suspension, and Daniele Baselli back from injury as they look to bounce back.

AC Milan have problems of their own and suffered a humiliating 4-0 home defeat against Napoli last time out. Mario Balotelli will be unavailable for the Rossoneri, and that could mean that former Toro player Alessio Cerci will feature.

It has been fourteen years since Toro last beat Milan, a solitary Cristiano Lucarelli goal enough to earn the Granata all three points.

Prediction
Torino 2-2 AC Milan

Carpi 2-1 Torino

Torino wasted the chance to go top of Serie A for the first time since 1977 after a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Carpi on Saturday evening.

With Daniele Baselli and Cristian Molinaro unavailable, The Granata had to make changes with Alessandro Gazzi and Gaston Silva coming into the team.

Ryder Matos had a great opportunity to give the home side the lead, but he headed straight at Daniele Padelli in the Toro goal. At the other end, Gaston Silva had a great opportunity for Torino, but his volley was parried by Vid Belec.

Maxi Lopez was proving to be a constant handful for the Carpi defence, and his swivelled shot went narrowly wide of the post just before half time.

Carpi took the lead in fortunate fashion, when Gabriel Silva's long range shot rebounded off the post, and then hit Daniele Padelli before going in. The home side doubled their lead when Marco Borriello's excellent cross was headed home by Ryder Matos after a quick counter attack.

It took only three minutes for Toro to get back into the game, as they were awarded a penalty after Maxi Lopez was upended by Igor Bubnjic. The Argentine stepped forward to take the kick himself and immediately reduced the arrears.

But the Granata could not find an equaliser in the dying stages, and continue to struggle away from the Stadio Olimpico - having lost two of their last three away games.

Forza Toro

Carpi v Torino Preview

Torino have the chance to go top of the Serie A table for one day at least if they manage to beat Carpi on Saturday evening.

The Granata have never faced the Biancorossi in a competitive fixture, and travel to Modena with a number of selection issues.

Cristian Molinaro and Joel Obi miss out through suspension, whilst Nikola Maksimovic, Danilo Avelar, Daniele Baselli and Bruno Peres all miss out through injury. However, Alessandro Gazzi is available for selection following injury, whilst Primavera players Valerio Mantovani and Andrea Morello are also included in the squad.

Carpi have struggled so far in their debut Serie A season and have yet to win in their six matches so far, and suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Roma last weekend. That defeat, somewhat harshly, cost Fabrizio Castori his job, and he has been replaced by experienced tactician Beppe Sannino.

Prediction
Carpi 1-2 Torino