Torino will be looking to end 2011 on a high with as they face a trip to Modena in their last game before Serie B takes a break for the festive period.
The city of Modena is perhaps best known for being the 'Supercar Capital' of the world, as well as being the birthplace of Luciano Pavarotti and Panini football stickers. In recent times their football team has not enjoyed much success, and they have not been in Serie A since 1964.
This season, the home side find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle having only won three games all season. Modena have also lost their last three home games, which included heavy defeats to both Sassuolo and Vicenza, so Toro should fancy their chances of victory.
The away side will be without Valerio Di Cesare who is suffering from flu , whilst Angelo Ogbonna, Alessandro Parisi, Migjen Basha, Alen Stevanovic, Alessandro Sgrigna and Rolando Bianchi should all return to the starting eleven after they all missed the "defeat" to Padova in the 14 minute match on Wednesday.
Forza Torino
Friday, 16 December 2011
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Padova 1-0 Torino (Last 14 Minutes)
Finally, eleven days after these two sides first met - the Padova v Torino saga was finally completed as the home side managed to hold to their advantage from the first match to claim a 1-0 victory.
As you will remember, the original match was abandoned after 76 minutes due to floodlight failure, and it was eventually decided that the remaining fourteen minutes would be played on Wednesday afternoon.
Giampiero Ventura resisted the temptation to play a team full of attacking minded players - and instead lined up in his usual 4-4-2 (or 4-2-4) formation with Simone Verdi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Guilio Ebagua and Biagio Pagano leading the line.
Torino had a number of chances to get an equaliser, with Valerio Di Cesare coming close, but he could only volley Manuel Iori's free kick over the bar. Padova also came close to extending their lead, but former Toro loanee Dejan Lazarevic had his shot blocked by a defender.
In the closing stages of the mini match, Torino brought on Kamil Glik as an auxiliary striker, but despite a number of half-hearted penalty appeals, Toro could not find an equaliser.
Whilst Toro will be disappointed to lose their second match of the season, although given the unusual circumstances surrounding this match, they shouldn't lose any momentum from this defeat and should be able to continue their good form. And Torino can now concentrate on there next match against Modena on Saturday - the last game before the winter break.
Forza Torino
As you will remember, the original match was abandoned after 76 minutes due to floodlight failure, and it was eventually decided that the remaining fourteen minutes would be played on Wednesday afternoon.
Giampiero Ventura resisted the temptation to play a team full of attacking minded players - and instead lined up in his usual 4-4-2 (or 4-2-4) formation with Simone Verdi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Guilio Ebagua and Biagio Pagano leading the line.
Torino had a number of chances to get an equaliser, with Valerio Di Cesare coming close, but he could only volley Manuel Iori's free kick over the bar. Padova also came close to extending their lead, but former Toro loanee Dejan Lazarevic had his shot blocked by a defender.
In the closing stages of the mini match, Torino brought on Kamil Glik as an auxiliary striker, but despite a number of half-hearted penalty appeals, Toro could not find an equaliser.
Whilst Toro will be disappointed to lose their second match of the season, although given the unusual circumstances surrounding this match, they shouldn't lose any momentum from this defeat and should be able to continue their good form. And Torino can now concentrate on there next match against Modena on Saturday - the last game before the winter break.
Forza Torino
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Padova 1-0 Torino (Last 14 Minutes) Preview
On Monday afternoon, Torino's appeal to have a 3-0 victory awarded in their favour (after the original match between the two teams was abandoned due to floodlight failure) was turned down.
That means that on Wednesday afternoon, Torino will travel to Padova in order to play the last 14 minutes of the match, that currently stands at 1-0 to the home side.
So what tactics does a team employ for a 14 minute game of football? With Torino 1-0 down they may decide that they have nothing to lose and go all out in search of an equaliser. Whilst Padova may be content to defend their lead and attempt to hit Torino on the counter attack.
The fact that Giampiero Ventura has not even included Alen Stevanovic, Angelo Ogbonna and Rolando Bianchi in the squad for this 'mini' match suggests that Toro are not willing to risk serious injuries to key players in a match the players will spend more time on the coach to Padova than on the football pitch.
Instead Torino have turned to the younger and less established members of the squad such as Simone Verdi and Nnamdi Oduamadi in order to get something from this match. Primavera products Abou Diop, Emanuele Gatto and Marco Chiosa have also been included in the squad and their eagerness to impress could be vital.
The three players who were originally suspended for this match, Parisi, Vives and Basha are all ineligible for this game, as are Mirco Antenucci and Alessandro Sgrigna as they had already been substituted by the time the floodlights failed - yet Abou Diop, who wasn't even in Padova at the time of the original match, is eligible.
Without having to conserve energy for an entire 90 minutes we should expect a high tempo encounter, that at times, could resemble a basketball match than a game of football.
Whilst it is farcical that Torino find themselves in this situation, lets hope Toro have enough time to get something out of this match, and earn a vital point in their quest for promotion. And if nothing else, I'm sure this saga will provide an intriguing trivia question for years to come.
Forza Torino
That means that on Wednesday afternoon, Torino will travel to Padova in order to play the last 14 minutes of the match, that currently stands at 1-0 to the home side.
So what tactics does a team employ for a 14 minute game of football? With Torino 1-0 down they may decide that they have nothing to lose and go all out in search of an equaliser. Whilst Padova may be content to defend their lead and attempt to hit Torino on the counter attack.
The fact that Giampiero Ventura has not even included Alen Stevanovic, Angelo Ogbonna and Rolando Bianchi in the squad for this 'mini' match suggests that Toro are not willing to risk serious injuries to key players in a match the players will spend more time on the coach to Padova than on the football pitch.
Instead Torino have turned to the younger and less established members of the squad such as Simone Verdi and Nnamdi Oduamadi in order to get something from this match. Primavera products Abou Diop, Emanuele Gatto and Marco Chiosa have also been included in the squad and their eagerness to impress could be vital.
The three players who were originally suspended for this match, Parisi, Vives and Basha are all ineligible for this game, as are Mirco Antenucci and Alessandro Sgrigna as they had already been substituted by the time the floodlights failed - yet Abou Diop, who wasn't even in Padova at the time of the original match, is eligible.
Without having to conserve energy for an entire 90 minutes we should expect a high tempo encounter, that at times, could resemble a basketball match than a game of football.
Whilst it is farcical that Torino find themselves in this situation, lets hope Toro have enough time to get something out of this match, and earn a vital point in their quest for promotion. And if nothing else, I'm sure this saga will provide an intriguing trivia question for years to come.
Forza Torino
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Torino 4-2 Pescara
Torino recorded their most impressive victory of the season, as they thrashed Pescara 4-2 to maintain their four point lead at the top of Serie B.
Torino made three changes from the abandoned match against Padova, as the three players who were suspended for that match - Alessandro Parisi, Migjen Basha and Giuseppe Vives came into the starting eleven. The inclusion of Vives meant that Torino did not play their usual 4-4-2 formation, and instead lined up in a 4-3-3 in order to match up with their opponents.
In the opening stages, Torino had a very good case for a penalty turned down when Giuseppe Vives made a run into the area and the midfielder seemed to be upended by Damiano Zanon, but for some reason the referee did not point to the spot. It was then the visitors turn to feel aggrieved when Ciro Immobile had a goal disallowed for offside, but replays showed that the goal should have stood.
Thanks to the open attacking game that the visitors were playing, Torino were able to create numerous chances, with Rolando Bianchi, Alessandro Sgrigna and Alen Stevanovic all going close. Then seven minutes before the break, Torino took the lead when Manuel Iori's floated cross found Migjen Basha, whose deft touch diverted it into the net - his first goal for the club.
Minutes later, Torino should have doubled their lead when Alen Stevanovic got to the byline and crossed for Rolando Bianchi, but somehow, the Torino captain failed to make contact with the ball from two yards out, and instead he could only collide with the post.
It looked as though that miss could prove to be crucial for Torino, as just three minutes into the second half, Pescara were level. On loan Juventus striker Ciro Immobile ran past Kamil Glik with ease before opening out his body to curl the ball into the bottom corner.
However, Pescara were not on level terms for long, as just five minutes later Torino regained the lead in bizarre circumstances. A long ball by Danilo D'Ambrosio was intercepted by a diving header from the onrushing Pescara keeper Luca Anania, but the ball fell to Giuseppe Vives, and with the goalkeeper off his line, Vives kept his cool and side footed the ball into the empty net from 35 yards.
Ten minutes later, Torino extended their lead, this time Danilo D'Ambrosio found Alessandro Sgrigna, who broke the offside trap and was given time and space before calmly finishing past Anania. And the former Vicenza striker scored again to put the result beyond any doubt, when Migjen Basha's through ball exploited the high line of the Pescara defence one more, and Sgrigna rounded the keeper to claim his second goal of the match.
Toro will be disappointed that their concentration levels dropped in the closing stages, as in injury time, a careless back pass from D'Ambrosio was intercepted by Immobile, as he scored his eleventh goal of the season. However, Torino can be pleased with the performance as they convincingly beat one of their promotion rivals, although they were aided by some terrible defending by the visitors.
Forza Torino
Torino made three changes from the abandoned match against Padova, as the three players who were suspended for that match - Alessandro Parisi, Migjen Basha and Giuseppe Vives came into the starting eleven. The inclusion of Vives meant that Torino did not play their usual 4-4-2 formation, and instead lined up in a 4-3-3 in order to match up with their opponents.
In the opening stages, Torino had a very good case for a penalty turned down when Giuseppe Vives made a run into the area and the midfielder seemed to be upended by Damiano Zanon, but for some reason the referee did not point to the spot. It was then the visitors turn to feel aggrieved when Ciro Immobile had a goal disallowed for offside, but replays showed that the goal should have stood.
Thanks to the open attacking game that the visitors were playing, Torino were able to create numerous chances, with Rolando Bianchi, Alessandro Sgrigna and Alen Stevanovic all going close. Then seven minutes before the break, Torino took the lead when Manuel Iori's floated cross found Migjen Basha, whose deft touch diverted it into the net - his first goal for the club.
Minutes later, Torino should have doubled their lead when Alen Stevanovic got to the byline and crossed for Rolando Bianchi, but somehow, the Torino captain failed to make contact with the ball from two yards out, and instead he could only collide with the post.
It looked as though that miss could prove to be crucial for Torino, as just three minutes into the second half, Pescara were level. On loan Juventus striker Ciro Immobile ran past Kamil Glik with ease before opening out his body to curl the ball into the bottom corner.
However, Pescara were not on level terms for long, as just five minutes later Torino regained the lead in bizarre circumstances. A long ball by Danilo D'Ambrosio was intercepted by a diving header from the onrushing Pescara keeper Luca Anania, but the ball fell to Giuseppe Vives, and with the goalkeeper off his line, Vives kept his cool and side footed the ball into the empty net from 35 yards.
Ten minutes later, Torino extended their lead, this time Danilo D'Ambrosio found Alessandro Sgrigna, who broke the offside trap and was given time and space before calmly finishing past Anania. And the former Vicenza striker scored again to put the result beyond any doubt, when Migjen Basha's through ball exploited the high line of the Pescara defence one more, and Sgrigna rounded the keeper to claim his second goal of the match.
Toro will be disappointed that their concentration levels dropped in the closing stages, as in injury time, a careless back pass from D'Ambrosio was intercepted by Immobile, as he scored his eleventh goal of the season. However, Torino can be pleased with the performance as they convincingly beat one of their promotion rivals, although they were aided by some terrible defending by the visitors.
Forza Torino
Friday, 9 December 2011
Torino V Pescara Preview
After the controversy surrounding last weekend's abandoned match against Padova, Torino will be wanting to return to normality on Saturday afternoon when they face Pescara at home.
A decision has still not been made regarding the conclusion of the Padova match, and although tentative arrangements have been made to play the remaining fourteen minutes of that match on December 14th, although that may be postponed if Torino's appeal is successful, and we should know more on Monday.
It is a shame that last weekends abandonment could overshadow a fascinating encounter against third placed Pescara, who are coached by Zdeněk Zeman. The Czech tactician is one of the most recognisable figures in Italian football, and his teams are famed for their ultra attacking style. That has certainly been the case this season, as Pescara have already scored 38 goals this season (Torino have only scored 20), with 27 of those goals coming from strike trio Marco Sansovini, Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne.
After being suspended last weekend, Giuseppe Vives, Migjen Basha and Alessandro Parisi will all return to the squad and all three could come into the starting eleven. Rolando Bianchi, who returned from his own suspension last weekend, will be looking to find his scoring boots once again, as il capitano has not scored since October 15th.
Forza Torino
A decision has still not been made regarding the conclusion of the Padova match, and although tentative arrangements have been made to play the remaining fourteen minutes of that match on December 14th, although that may be postponed if Torino's appeal is successful, and we should know more on Monday.
It is a shame that last weekends abandonment could overshadow a fascinating encounter against third placed Pescara, who are coached by Zdeněk Zeman. The Czech tactician is one of the most recognisable figures in Italian football, and his teams are famed for their ultra attacking style. That has certainly been the case this season, as Pescara have already scored 38 goals this season (Torino have only scored 20), with 27 of those goals coming from strike trio Marco Sansovini, Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne.
After being suspended last weekend, Giuseppe Vives, Migjen Basha and Alessandro Parisi will all return to the squad and all three could come into the starting eleven. Rolando Bianchi, who returned from his own suspension last weekend, will be looking to find his scoring boots once again, as il capitano has not scored since October 15th.
Forza Torino
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Padova 1-0 Torino (Abandoned after 76 Minutes)
Torino's match against Padova finished prematurely and in farcical circumstances on Saturday afternoon, as the game was abandoned after 76 minutes due to continued floodlight failure, with the home side 1-0 up.
Whilst match began in torrential rain, the first half was able to start without any problems, with Torino including Rolando Bianchi in the side after suspension, and Giuseppe De Feudis was given his first start of the season in midfield.
Padova started the match brightly, and Daniele Cacia twice should have opened the scoring for the home side, especially on the second occasion when he was one on one with Ferdinando Coppola but somehow managed to put it wide.
The problems first arose at the beginning of the second half, as just before the two teams came out onto the pitch, the floodlights turned off for the first time. However, after a slight delay the second half resumed, although soon afterwards, play was halted again as the floodlights turned off for a second time.
And it was in these uncertain circumstances that Padova took the lead, as Francesco Ruopolo diverted Francesco Renzetti's cross past a helpless Coppola. Although due to the constant interruptions, it was perhaps understandable that Torino conceded at this time.
Torino made two changes as they looked to get back on level terms, with Giulio Ebagua and Simone Verdi coming on, and within seconds they combined to set up Rolando Bianchi, whose shot was well saved by Mattia Perin. And the home side's young goalkeeper also did well to deny Angelo Ogbonna from the resulting corner.
With fifteen minutes remaining, the pitch was plunged into darkness once again, and this time the floodlights did not regain power and the match was abandoned. Initially, the original plan was to play the remaining fifteen minutes on Sunday afternoon, although Torino were unhappy with this idea, as they believed that the whole second half should be replayed as that was when the floodlight problems arose.
Therefore, the decision on when the remainder of this match will be replayed has been delayed, and there has even been some discussion that Torino could be awarded a 3-0 victory because it was the home side who had the problems. This does seem a little unlikely, as well as being a little unfair on Padova - although to be honest, I don't think any Toro fan would complain too much if they were awarded the points.
Whilst match began in torrential rain, the first half was able to start without any problems, with Torino including Rolando Bianchi in the side after suspension, and Giuseppe De Feudis was given his first start of the season in midfield.
Padova started the match brightly, and Daniele Cacia twice should have opened the scoring for the home side, especially on the second occasion when he was one on one with Ferdinando Coppola but somehow managed to put it wide.
The problems first arose at the beginning of the second half, as just before the two teams came out onto the pitch, the floodlights turned off for the first time. However, after a slight delay the second half resumed, although soon afterwards, play was halted again as the floodlights turned off for a second time.
And it was in these uncertain circumstances that Padova took the lead, as Francesco Ruopolo diverted Francesco Renzetti's cross past a helpless Coppola. Although due to the constant interruptions, it was perhaps understandable that Torino conceded at this time.
Torino made two changes as they looked to get back on level terms, with Giulio Ebagua and Simone Verdi coming on, and within seconds they combined to set up Rolando Bianchi, whose shot was well saved by Mattia Perin. And the home side's young goalkeeper also did well to deny Angelo Ogbonna from the resulting corner.
With fifteen minutes remaining, the pitch was plunged into darkness once again, and this time the floodlights did not regain power and the match was abandoned. Initially, the original plan was to play the remaining fifteen minutes on Sunday afternoon, although Torino were unhappy with this idea, as they believed that the whole second half should be replayed as that was when the floodlight problems arose.
Therefore, the decision on when the remainder of this match will be replayed has been delayed, and there has even been some discussion that Torino could be awarded a 3-0 victory because it was the home side who had the problems. This does seem a little unlikely, as well as being a little unfair on Padova - although to be honest, I don't think any Toro fan would complain too much if they were awarded the points.
Friday, 2 December 2011
Padova V Torino Preview
In the final game of last season, it was Torino's defeat to Padova that ended their hopes of gaining promotion via the playoffs. This season, Torino are aiming for automatic promotion and will be looking to maintain or even extend their five point lead at the top of Serie B, with victory against Padova on Saturday.
Torino are boosted by the return of Rolando Bianchi, who is back with the squad after serving a two match suspension. However, Toro will be without midfield duo Migjen Basha and Giuseppe Vives, who will have to serve their own suspensions after both having gained their fourth yellow cards of the season against Livorno last Saturday.
Padova are currently seven points behind Torino in fourth place, and head into this game on the back of an impressive 1-0 away win against fellow promotion contenders Sassuolo.
Torino are boosted by the return of Rolando Bianchi, who is back with the squad after serving a two match suspension. However, Toro will be without midfield duo Migjen Basha and Giuseppe Vives, who will have to serve their own suspensions after both having gained their fourth yellow cards of the season against Livorno last Saturday.
Padova are currently seven points behind Torino in fourth place, and head into this game on the back of an impressive 1-0 away win against fellow promotion contenders Sassuolo.
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