Torino v Genoa Preview

Torino have an injury crisis to contend with as they look to earn their first home win since October when they host Genoa on Saturday afternoon.

Andrea Belotti suffered an injury in training in the week, and is added to Toro's lengthy list of absentees, alongside Lyanco, Cristian Ansaldi, Antonio Barreca, Adem Ljajic and Simone Edera.

Thankfully, Belotti's injury is not as serious as first feared, and the Toro captain should hopefully be back after the Serie A winter break.

Genoa's form has improved since the appointment of Davide Ballardini as coach in November and they have won two of their last four matches, including last weekend against Benevento.

Prediction
Torino 2-1 Genoa

SPAL 2-2 Torino

Torino dropped two points once again as they threw away a 2-0 lead to draw against SPAL on Saturday afternoon. 

Lyanco returned to the starting eleven replacing Nicolas Burdisso, whilst M'Baye Niang was preferred to Alex Berenguer in attack. 

Toro made the perfect start, and were ahead with less than 30 seconds on the clock, as Cristian Molinaro's long pass was half-volleyed home by Iago Falque.

The Granata doubled their lead with only ten minutes gone, as Falque was quickest to react after Daniele Baselli's goal-bound shot was rebounded into his path.

With only three minutes to half time, the home side pulled a goal back thanks to Federico Viviani's fantastic free kick from twenty-five yards.

With twenty minutes remaining, SPAL were awarded a debatable penalty after VAR review when Lorenzo De Silvestri was adjudged to have tripped Alberto Grassi. Former Torino striker Mirco Antenucci converted the penalty to bring the newly promoted side level.

Toro came within inches to claiming a victory in the dying seconds, but Andrea Belotti saw his header cleared off the line. Therefore, Toro had to make do with a point, as they once again threw away a two goal advantage.

Forza Toro

SPAL v Torino Preview

Torino will travel to Ferrara to face SPAL on Saturday afternoon in hoping of giving their supporters an early Christmas present.

Toro have not faced SPAL in a league fixture since 1968, and on that occasion, Giorgio Ferrini and company were unable to find a breakthrough as they drew 0-0.

Adem Ljajic is missing with injury, so M'Baye Niang could return to the starting eleven, whilst Lyanco could also replace Nicolas Burdisso in defence.

Former Toro goalkeeper Alfred Gomis is SPAL's current number one, and he helped them win their last match against Benevento last Sunday. However, that was their first victory since October - although they are unbeaten in their last three home matches.

Prediction
SPAL 1-2 Torino

Roma 1-2 Torino

Torino produced an excellent away performance to progress to the Quarter Finals of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday night.

As expected Sinisa Mihajlovic did rotate his team, with Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Lyanco, Joel Obi, Afriyie Acquah, M'Baye Niang and Simone Edera all coming into the starting eleven.

Toro started well, and Lukasz Skorupski made an excellent save to deny Lorenzo De Silvestri from scoring a header.

At the other end, Stephan El Shaarawy came so close to giving Roma the lead but his long range shot hit the bar.

Skorupski once again performed heroics by denying Andrea Belotti's header, but this time the ball fell to Lorenzo De Silvestri and the former Lazio defender converted the rebound.

In the second half, Toro were looking a threat on the counter attack, and Simone Edera could have doubled their lead but the youngster's lofted finish from Afriyie Acquah's assist went over the bar.

Roma hit the woodwork for the second time in the match, as Patrik Schick's header glanced off the post.

Toro took advantage of that bit of fortune by doubling their lead almost immediately, as substitute Alex Berenguer delivered an outstanding cross that was headed home by Simone Edera - his second goal in a month at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma had a chance back into the tie when they were awarded a penalty as Emiliano Moretti was harshly adjudged to have pulled back Schick, however, Edin Dzeko was denied by a magnificent save by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

With five minutes remaining, the home side did reduce the arrears as Patrik Schick finished well from inside the area, but Toro held on and will now face neighbours Juventus in the Coppa Italia quarter finals.

Forza Toro

Roma v Torino Preview

Torino will travel to Roma in the last 16 of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday evening looking to cause a cup upset.

Defenders Kevin Bonifazi and Lyanco could receive rare starts, whilst Simone Edera and M'Baye Niang could also come into the team as Sinisa Mihajlovic may choose to rotate his squad.

Roma are enjoying an impressive campaign under new coach Eusebio Di Francesco, and have already beaten Torino once this season already, a narrow 1-0 victory in Turin back in October.

Prediction
Roma 2-1 Torino

Torino 1-3 Napoli

Torino were defeated for the first time since October as they were left to rue a nightmare first half hour against Napoli on Saturday evening.

Alex Berenguer was once again preferred to Adem Ljajic, as Toro remained unchanged from the team who started the victory against Lazio on Monday.

Toro were behind after only four minutes as Kalidou Koulibaly headed home from a corner following Allan's flick on. Dries Mertens could have doubled their lead moments later, but the Belgian international dragged his shot wide of the post.

Napoli did double their lead after twenty-five minutes when Piotr Zielinski was awarded the freedom of Turin by a generous Torino back line to go clear of the defence and score. Five minutes later, Marek Hamsik made it 3-0 as he fired a Mertens assist into the top corner of Salvatore Sirigu's goal.

Toro should have got a goal back before half time but Daniele Baselli was unable to make a significant contact on Iago Falque's excellent assist.

Torino looked a lot more secure at the back in the second half, and with half an hour remaining, Andrea Belotti scored his first Serie A goal since September as he fired home from the edge of the area.

Iago Falque wasted a good opportunity to reduce the deficit once more with a poor shot on his weaker right foot when well placed. However, Toro's hopes of an unlikely comeback were ended when they were reduced to ten men as substitute Adem Ljajic went off injured and the Granata had already made all three changes, and Napoli claimed a deserved victory.

Forza Toro

Torino v Napoli Preview

Torino will look to build on Monday's surprise victory against Lazio when they host Napoli on Monday evening.

Adem Ljajic returns to the Toro squad after being dropped for the trip to Rome for disciplinary reasons, whilst M'Baye Niang also returns to the squad following injury.

Napoli are mounting a serious scudetto challenge this season, and are only one point behind leaders Inter coming into this game. However, they have failed to win, or even score in their last two league matches, which may give Toro cause for optimism.

Prediction
Torino 1-2 Napoli

Lazio 1-3 Torino

Torino won their first away game since September as they benefited from former striker Ciro Immobile's first half red card on Monday evening.

Cristian Molinaro and Mirko Valdifiori came into the starting eleven, whilst Adem Ljajic was dropped from the squad for a breach of discipline and replaced by Alex Berenguer.

Toro started brightly, and were unlucky not to take the lead when Andrea Belotti's powerful effort hit the inside of the post following Iago Falque's clever assist. At the other end, Ciro Immobile should have done better when through on goal, but his delayed shot was finally blocked by Nicolas N'Koulou.

Iago Falque was once again the provider as he played an excellent pass to find Cristian Molinaro in space, but the full back dragged his shot wide of the far post.

One the stroke of half time the turning point occurred when Ciro Immobile clashed with Nicolas Burdisso in an off-the-ball incident. Immobile, who was already aggrieved by the referee's denial of a possible penalty for handball moments earlier, appeared to headbutt the Argentine after he had approached him.

After the referee consulted VAR, Immobile was given a straight red card and Lazio would have to play the whole second half with only ten men.

It took the Granata less than ten minutes to take advantage of their numerical superiority thanks to Alex Berenguer's solo effort, which was a mixture of skill and luck to earn the Spaniard his first Serie A goal.

There was nothing lucky about Toro's second goal, as Venezuelan midfielder Tomas Rincon picked the ball up from outside the area before curling a left footed into the top corner - an incredible way to score his first Torino goal.

Despite being down to ten men, the home side game themselves a lifeline when Andrea Belotti lost possession and Luis Alberto waltzed through the Toro defence to score. However, Torino re-established their two goal lead just four minutes later when substitute Simone Edera fired home an excellent left footed strike from just outside the area to clinch all three points.

Forza Toro!

Lazio v Torino Preview

Torino will look to win their first away match in three months when they travel to Rome to face Lazio on Monday evening.

The Granata have endured a disappointing campaign so far, with only four victories out of fifteen matches this season, and a run of four consecutive draws have not helped their quest for points.

Cristian Ansaldi and M'Baye Niang are both unavailable due to injury, so youth team players Alessandro Fiordaliso and Ben Lhassine Kone are included in the squad for the first time.

Lazio have been in excellent form, winning seven of their last nine Serie A fixtures, although they were held 1-1 by Fiorentina in their last home game.

Prediction
Lazio 2-1 Torino

Torino 1-1 Atalanta

Torino were held to a fourth consecutive Serie A draw as they were unable to hold on to a lead given to them by Nicolas N'Koulou's first goal for the club.

Nicolas Burdisso was once again preferred to Lyanco in defence, whilst Iago Falque started in place of M'Baye Niang who was not even on the bench.

Torino, wearing an unfamiliar green strip in honour of Chapecoense, struggled to create many chances in a first half devoid of quality from both teams. However, on the stroke of half time, Nicolas N'Koulou headed home Adem Ljajic's corner to give Toro the lead.

Atalanta introduced substitute Josip Iličić at half time, and within ten minutes the Slovenian made an instant impact as he broke through a weak Toro offside trap to equalise.

Andrea Belotti forced an excellent save from Etrit Berisha whilst at the other end, Salvatore Sirigu saved well from Leonardo Spinazzola but both sides had to settle for a point.

Forza Toro

Torino v Atalanta Preview

Torino will face Atalanta on Saturday evening looking to end a run of three consecutive draws to get their quest for a top 7 finish back on track.

It has been announced that Torino will wear a special one off green shirt to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Chapecoense air disaster.

Andrea Belotti got on the score sheet in mid-week against Carpi in the Coppa Italia, but has not scored a league goal for the Granata since September 20th.

Atalanta were the surprise team of last season and have achieved some excellent results in the Europa League, including a 5-1 win at Everton. However, their league form has not been as impressive and have lost their last three away games, although they do come into this match above Torino in the table, on goal difference.

Prediction
Torino 2-1 Atalanta

Torino 2-0 Carpi

Torino progressed to the last 16 of the Coppa Italia with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Carpi on Wednesday evening.

Sinisa Mihajlovic resisted the temptation of wholesale rotation but Vanja Milinković-Savić and Kevin Bonifazi made their debuts for the Granata.

Toro took the lead after less than twenty minutes after M'Baye Niang's short corner found Iago Falque on the edge of the area who fired a low shot into the net.

The Granata doubled their lead when Niang's deep cross gave Andrea Belotti the simple task of heading home from close range as the Toro skipper ended his goal drought.

Daniele Baselli and Andrea Belotti (twice) had good chances to extend Toro's lead in the second half, but they were wasteful in front of goal.

In injury time, there was a curious incident when Toro were awarded a free kick thirty yards from goal, and up stepped Vanja Milinković-Savić - the Torino goalkeeper. Incredibly, Milinković-Savić almost found the target as his powerfully hit free kick thumped off the crossbar and bounced away to safety.