Torino 2-0 Modena

Torino will be playing Serie A football for the first time in three seasons after their 2-0 victory over Modena on Sunday afternoon secured promotion.

Captain Rolando Bianchi was injured so Mirco Antenucci and Riccardo Meggiorini led the line, whilst Migjen Basha's absence gave Nnamdi Oduamadi a rare start.

In front of a sold out Stadio Olimpico, Toro made a bright start knowing that it was essential to get an early goal to ensure that the fans did not get nervous. Mirco Antenucci's had a great chance to add to his tally of ten goals, but Modena keeper Nicholas Caglioni did well to deny him.

Riccardo Meggiorini, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Juan Surraco all came close to scoring within the opening twenty minutes, but a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing meant that it remained scoreless. However, midway through the first half, Torino did get the goal that their domination deserved as Meggiorini's shot rebounded into the path of Oduamadi who scored at the second attempt.

At the other end, a quick counter attack gave Modena their first chance of the match, but Matteo Ardemagni's shot was well saved by Francesco Benussi.

In the second half, Mirco Antenucci should have put the result beyond doubt, but he was only able to divert Juan Surraco's cross over the bar.  Danilo D'Ambrosio also had a great chance to score for the second game in a row, but his header was saved by Caglioni.

However, with seven minutes remaining, Torino finally confirmed that they would be playing Serie A football next season, as Giuseppe Vives' clever cut back was side footed in by an unlikely source - substitute Giuseppe De Feudis.

That goal sparked wild celebrations in the stadium, and although Pescara's victory against Sampdoria sealed their promotion as well, Torino will be confirmed as Serie B champions next weekend if they beat Albinoleffe next Sunday.

Instead of playing against the likes of Crotone, Cittadella and Gubbio like they did this season - next season, Torino will now be facing Milan, Inter and Juventus - with the derby being the fixture most Toro fans are  looking forward to the most.

Forza Torino

Torino 2-1 Ascoli

Torino returned to the top of the Serie B table as Mirco Antenucci's brace was enough to see of his former side Ascoli on Saturday afternoon.

Toro had moved down to 2nd place after Sassuolo's narrow 1-0 victory against Nocerina on Friday night, and many pundits wondered how Torino would respond to losing their place at the top. Giampiero Ventura decided to counter Ascoli's 5-3-2 formation by playing a 4-3-3, with Giuseppe De Feudis earning a rare start in the absence of the suspended Manuel Iori.

Torino had the first chance of the match after Migjen Basha's cross found the head of Rolando Bianchi, but the captain struggled to get much power behind the header, and it was easily saved by Ascoli keeper Enrico Guarna. Just before the twenty minute mark, Torino took the lead when Mirco Antenucci received the ball outside the area and curled a fantastic shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

However, Ascoli levelled just ten minutes later after Alex Pederzoli's corner found its way to Matteo Ciofani at the far post who stabbed the ball past Ferdinando Coppola, who was returning to the side after suspension. Torino had a chance to regain the lead, but Rolando Bianchi's poor form in front of goal continued as he headed Mirco Antenucci's cross five yards wide of the post.

Torino started the second half brightly, and midfielder Migjen Basha let fly with an ambitious shot from 35 yards, that was nervously palmed away for a corner. With 25 minutes remained, Torino took the lead for a second time, and once again it was Mirco Antenucci who got the goal. The former Ascoli striker dribbled into the area before unleashing a scuffed shot that somehow found its way underneath away keeper Guarna.

Torino had opportunities to extend their lead when Valerio Di Cesare hit the bar from six yards, whilst Mirco Antenucci came close to scoring his third goal of the afternoon, but his shot went narrowly wide. The visitors nearly made the home side pay for their missed chances, but Papa Waigo's shot was well parried by Coppola, and Alessandro Sbaffo's follow up went wide of the target.

Torino held on for a vital three points that quickly re-established their position as league leaders, ahead of two difficult away games against Cittadella and Varese. With much speculation surrounding the impending arrival of striker Riccardo Meggiorini, it was perhaps expected that Mirco Antenucci would choose this game to remind Giampiero Ventura of his ability. Lets hope that if Meggiorini does arrive, it will also motivate Rolando Bianchi to find his scoring boots.

Forza Torino

De Feudis Returns

Torino have completed the signing of Cesena midfielder Giuseppe De Feudis, as coach Giampiero Ventura attempts to make a few last minute additions to his squad ahead of their opening Serie B fixture against Ascoli on Saturday.

De Feudis will be a familiar face for Torino fans, as he enjoyed a loan spell at the club last season, and impressed in what was an otherwise disappointing campaign for the Granata, and has now signed on a permanent contract until 2013.

Torino 2-0 Triestina

Torino returned to winning ways with a convincing 2-0 victory over relegation threatened Triestina, to keep their hopes of participating in the end of season playoffs alive.

One of the biggest criticism of this Torino side is their tendency to make a slow start in games, however it took just six minutes for them to take the lead on Saturday. The goal arrived after sloppy play by the Triestina defence, who gifted the ball to Mirco Antenucci who finished calmly with his left foot from 18 yards out. That goal was Antenucci's first in over a month, and he nearly had a second soon afterwards, but his header was well saved by Sergio Viotti in the Triestina goal.

After dominating the first half, Toro began the second half in similar fashion, and should have extended their lead via Angelo Ogbonna, but once again Viotti produced a fine save. Rolando Bianchi also had a chance to continue his great run of form, but directed his header straight at the away goalkeeper. Just when it seemed Torino would not find a second goal, Bianchi headed down a cross from the right hand side into the path of Guiseppe De Feudis who chested it down and scored his first goal for the club with a left footed volley.

The match finished 2-0 and Torino got the three points they desperately needed, albeit against a poor Triestina team. However, as there were also victories for Empoli, Livorno and Padova, it means just two points separate the four sides, with Torino continuing to occupy the treasured 6th place.

Next weekends set of fixtures will be particularly interesting, because Torino visit Empoli on Friday evening, whilst Padova face Livorno on the Saturday, meaning that the playoff picture will become a lot clearer this time next week.

Forza Torino

Torino 1-0 Grosseto

Football really is a funny game. Just thirteen days ago, Torino seemed to be in crisis, they had just suffered their fourth consecutive defeat against Frosinone, and coach Giuseppe Papadopulo was sacked eleven days after being given the job. However, the decision to re-appoint Franco Lerda as coach may prove to be a masterstroke, as Torino have now won both of their games since his return, and a position in the playoffs at the end of the season now look more realistic.

However, on Friday night, it was Grosseto who had the first opportunity to open the scoring, but Rubinho made a miraculous save from Ferdinando Sforzini's header to keep the scores level. The away team had started the game brightly, and Rubinho was forced into another save, this time from on loan Juventus striker Ciro Immobile's long range shot. Torino's first chance of the game came via Andrea Gasbarroni's long range effort, but Grosseto keeper Antonio Narciso proved he could also make a fine save when called upon. In an entertaining first half, it was Dejan Lazarevic who should have opened his goalscoring account for Torino, but his shot hit the side netting.

Torino had the first meaningful chance of the second half, and it was that man Lazarevic who should have scored again, but blazed his shot high over the bar from just ten yards out, albeit at a difficult angle. Just as it began to look like it would be one of those days, where Torino would be unable to capitalise on their dominance, they got their breakthrough, with just fifteen minutes remaining. A diagonal ball from Alessandro Budel found his central midfield colleague Giuseppe De Feudis in the area who took the ball down with consummate ease and slid a pass to Mirco Antenucci to tap into an unguarded net from eight yards out.

Despite a few nervous moments towards the end of the game, Torino were able to hold on to give them a vital three points. Saturday's results were also kind to Toro, as playoff rivals Livorno were beaten at home and Reggina only managed to draw, and although Vicenza were victorious, Torino find themselves just one point away from the final playoff position.

As one Italian match report stated after the game - Il Toro sta crescendo, The Bull is Growing. That certainly does seem to be the case.