Torino will look to make it into the last 16 of the Coppa Italia when they face Serie B side Pisa on Tuesday evening.
Sinisa Mihajlovic has named a strong squad, but he may take this opportunity to rotate his squad and use fringe players such as Cesare Bovo, Afriyie Acquah and Josef Martinez.
Pisa, who are coached by former AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, are currently 15th in Serie B but have only scored seven goals in sixteen league games.
Prediction
Torino 3-0 Pisa
Monday 28 November 2016
Torino 2-1 Chievo
Torino made it three successive league wins with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Chievo on Saturday evening.
The Granata made a bright start and Andrea Belotti and Adem Ljajic both had half chances to open the scoring. Ten minutes before half time, Antonio Barreca's excellent cross found Iago Falque unmarked at the far post and the Spaniard headed past Stefano Sorrentino to give Toro the lead.
Torino doubled their lead three minutes later and it was that man Falque who curled an exquisite left footed shot into the top corner.
Toro were given a fright in the closing stages when Roberto Inglese headed home Valter Birsa's corner with only five minutes remaining. However, Chievo's chances of salvaging a draw were damaged when Fabrizio Cacciatore was sent off for dissent in the final minute.
Davide Zappacosta should have added a third goal with the last kick of the game, but he shot wide with Adem Ljajic and Andrea Belotti well placed.
Forza Toro
The Granata made a bright start and Andrea Belotti and Adem Ljajic both had half chances to open the scoring. Ten minutes before half time, Antonio Barreca's excellent cross found Iago Falque unmarked at the far post and the Spaniard headed past Stefano Sorrentino to give Toro the lead.
Torino doubled their lead three minutes later and it was that man Falque who curled an exquisite left footed shot into the top corner.
Toro were given a fright in the closing stages when Roberto Inglese headed home Valter Birsa's corner with only five minutes remaining. However, Chievo's chances of salvaging a draw were damaged when Fabrizio Cacciatore was sent off for dissent in the final minute.
Davide Zappacosta should have added a third goal with the last kick of the game, but he shot wide with Adem Ljajic and Andrea Belotti well placed.
Forza Toro
Saturday 26 November 2016
Torino v Chievo Preview
Top scorer and talisman Andrea Belotti has recovered from a bout of flu and should be fit to start, whilst Lorenzo De Silvestri is expected to replace Davide Zappacosta at right back.
Chievo are on a poor run of form, and have only won one of their last six fixtures, a 1-0 victory over Cagliari last time out.
Prediction
Torino 3-1 Chievo
Tuesday 22 November 2016
Crotone 0-2 Torino
Andrea Belotti proved his importance to Torino once again as the Italian international scored two late goals to give Toro all three points at Crotone.
There was only one enforced change for the Granata, as Emiliano Moretti replaced Antonio Barreca at left back with the youngster suffering from flu.
It was the home side who had the first chance as Andrea Barberis tried his luck from long range, but he was denied by a good save from Joe Hart. The England international was forced into action again, as his poor pass presented the ball to Marcello Trotta, but Hart made amends to deny the former Brentford striker.
Toro were dominating possession in the second half, but were struggling to create clear cut chances, so Sinisa Mihajlovic brought on strikers Josef Martinez and Lucas Boyé in an attempt to find a winner.
With ten minutes remaining, Adem Ljajic's through ball found Andrea Belotti who calmly finished past Alex Cordaz - although replays did show the former Palermo man was narrowly offside.
In the final minute, Belotti eased any Toro nerves by firing home a fine left footed strike after excellent work from Boyé to seal all three points.
There was only one enforced change for the Granata, as Emiliano Moretti replaced Antonio Barreca at left back with the youngster suffering from flu.
It was the home side who had the first chance as Andrea Barberis tried his luck from long range, but he was denied by a good save from Joe Hart. The England international was forced into action again, as his poor pass presented the ball to Marcello Trotta, but Hart made amends to deny the former Brentford striker.
Toro were dominating possession in the second half, but were struggling to create clear cut chances, so Sinisa Mihajlovic brought on strikers Josef Martinez and Lucas Boyé in an attempt to find a winner.
With ten minutes remaining, Adem Ljajic's through ball found Andrea Belotti who calmly finished past Alex Cordaz - although replays did show the former Palermo man was narrowly offside.
In the final minute, Belotti eased any Toro nerves by firing home a fine left footed strike after excellent work from Boyé to seal all three points.
Sunday 20 November 2016
Crotone v Torino Preview
Toro have only won one game away from home this season, a 4-1 victory over Palermo in October and will be without left back Antonio Barreca for this fixture, as the youngster is suffering from flu.
In their debut Serie A season, Crotone have only won one game following their surprise promotion - a 2-0 victory over Chievo three weeks ago.
Prediction
Crotone 1-3 Torino
Monday 7 November 2016
Torino 5-1 Cagliari
Torino produced another excellent home performance as they thrashed Cagliari 5-1 at Stadio Grande Torino on Saturday evening.
As expected, Leandro Castan and Iago Falque returned to the Toro starting eleven, and it only took two minutes for the Granata to take the lead.
Andrea Belotti's initial shot was parried by Marco Storari, but the Italian international reacted first to smash into the back of the net. Toro doubled their lead less than ten minutes later as Adem Ljajic scored with a shot from outside the area which wrong-footed Storari.
Marco Benassi added a third goal for Toro as the captain fired a shot into the top corner from a difficult angle. However, four minutes before half time, Federico Melchiorri gave the away side a lifeline as he headed home a left wing cross past Joe Hart, and the England international may be disappointed not to have kept it out.
However, Toro re-established their three goal lead just five minutes into the second half as Daniele Baselli smashed home a fourth following Ljajic's cut back. Torino were awarded a penalty on the hour mark when Panagiotis Tachtsidis (who is on loan from Toro) tripped Andrea Belotti in the area.
Cagliari midfielder Daniele Dessena was sent off for protesting that decision, but that did not deter Belotti who managed to convert his first penalty of the season - despite Storari getting a hand to it.
This was Toro's second 5-1 victory of the season, and only Roma have bettered their tally of 27 goals so far this campaign.
Forza Toro
As expected, Leandro Castan and Iago Falque returned to the Toro starting eleven, and it only took two minutes for the Granata to take the lead.
Andrea Belotti's initial shot was parried by Marco Storari, but the Italian international reacted first to smash into the back of the net. Toro doubled their lead less than ten minutes later as Adem Ljajic scored with a shot from outside the area which wrong-footed Storari.
Marco Benassi added a third goal for Toro as the captain fired a shot into the top corner from a difficult angle. However, four minutes before half time, Federico Melchiorri gave the away side a lifeline as he headed home a left wing cross past Joe Hart, and the England international may be disappointed not to have kept it out.
However, Toro re-established their three goal lead just five minutes into the second half as Daniele Baselli smashed home a fourth following Ljajic's cut back. Torino were awarded a penalty on the hour mark when Panagiotis Tachtsidis (who is on loan from Toro) tripped Andrea Belotti in the area.
Cagliari midfielder Daniele Dessena was sent off for protesting that decision, but that did not deter Belotti who managed to convert his first penalty of the season - despite Storari getting a hand to it.
This was Toro's second 5-1 victory of the season, and only Roma have bettered their tally of 27 goals so far this campaign.
Forza Toro
Friday 4 November 2016
Torino v Cagliari Preview
Leandro Castan has returned to the squad following injury and should come into the starting eleven, as should Iago Falque who played no part against Udinese on Monday.
Davide Zappacosta and Mirko Valdifiori both suffered injuries in that game, but have been included in the squad so could feature.
Since gaining promotion last season, Cagliari have adjusted well to life in the top flight and are currently level on points with Torino in 9th place. Despite winning four of their last six fixtures, Cagliari have only won one of their five away games this season, a shock 2-1 victory over Inter at the San Siro.
Prediction
Torino 3-1 Cagliari
Tuesday 1 November 2016
Udinese 2-2 Torino
Torino came from behind to earn a point in Udine on Monday night thanks to Adem Ljajic's fine individual goal.
As expected, Marco Benassi and Daniele Baselli came back into the midfield but Lucas Boyé was a surprise starter in place of Iago Falque.
Toro took the lead after fifteen minutes when Andrea Belotti played a perfect through ball to Marco Benassi and the former Inter midfielder finished well when one on one against Orestis Karnezis.
The Granata could have doubled their lead before half time, but this time Karnezis was able to deny Andrea Belotti who was through on goal.
Torino were made to pay for that missed chance on the hour mark when Cyril Thereau headed home a right wing cross to bring the home side level. Udinese then managed to take the lead ten minutes later when Toro failed to clear a corner, and Duvan Zapata managed to score from one yard out.
However Adem Ljajic produced another contender in what seems to be his own goal of the season competition as the Serbian winger jinked past the Udinese defence before curling a left footed shot into the bottom corner.
Toro were unable to find a winning goal in the closing stages, and a draw was probably the fair result, but the away side were left to rue not making the most of their first half dominance.
As expected, Marco Benassi and Daniele Baselli came back into the midfield but Lucas Boyé was a surprise starter in place of Iago Falque.
Toro took the lead after fifteen minutes when Andrea Belotti played a perfect through ball to Marco Benassi and the former Inter midfielder finished well when one on one against Orestis Karnezis.
The Granata could have doubled their lead before half time, but this time Karnezis was able to deny Andrea Belotti who was through on goal.
Torino were made to pay for that missed chance on the hour mark when Cyril Thereau headed home a right wing cross to bring the home side level. Udinese then managed to take the lead ten minutes later when Toro failed to clear a corner, and Duvan Zapata managed to score from one yard out.
However Adem Ljajic produced another contender in what seems to be his own goal of the season competition as the Serbian winger jinked past the Udinese defence before curling a left footed shot into the bottom corner.
Toro were unable to find a winning goal in the closing stages, and a draw was probably the fair result, but the away side were left to rue not making the most of their first half dominance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)