Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Serie A clash between Torino and Lazio, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Top of Serie A after five rounds, Torino will aim to continue their unbeaten start on Sunday, as they welcome Lazio to Stadio Olimpico Grande.
Though they were knocked out of the Coppa Italia in midweek, Toro won again last weekend and sit four points clear of their visitors from the capital.
Match preview
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Torino’s 3-2 away victory over Hellas Verona put them top of the Serie A standings last week, capping an excellent start to Paolo Vanoli‘s time in Turin.
Level at 1-1 when their hosts went down to 10 men, the Granata struck twice more – through Duvan Zapata and second-half substitute Che Adams – leaving them alone in first place at the end of a matchday for the first time since 1976.
On that occasion, they went on to finish runners-up in the Scudetto race to city rivals Juventus – always a thorn in the side – but their aims are a little more modest this season, with European qualification being a likely goal.
Torino will first try to remain unbeaten through their first six Serie A matches for the first time in 32 years, having just seen their undefeated streak in all competitions ended in the Coppa Italia.
A much-changed side lost 2-1 at home to Empoli on Tuesday evening, despite Adams scoring a 74th-minute equaliser that seemed set to keep their cup hopes alive.
In the league, though, Toro have lost just one of their last 16 home matches, keeping 11 clean sheets in the process – in fact, their only defeat during that time came against Lazio last February.
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Furthermore, Lazio have not lost any of their last five away games against Torino, which is already a record run in this fixture, and they have not even conceded a goal in the two most recent meetings.
The Biancocelesti will also travel to Turin having recorded an excellent away win to start their Europa League campaign, beating Dynamo Kiev 3-0 in Germany on Wednesday night.
In-form striker Boulaye Dia bagged a brace at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion, as Lazio shook off some inconsistent form in Serie A, where they occupied eighth place in the standings after five matches.
A precious point had slipped through their fingers against Fiorentina three days earlier, as conceding a penalty in second-half stoppage time cost Marco Baroni‘s men dearly and sent them home empty-handed after a 2-1 loss.
Mario Gila‘s goal did maintain their scoring streak though, and including events in midweek they have now found the net for 14 straight games dating back to April’s Rome derby.
However, following that setback in Florence, Lazio have lost both of their Serie A away matches this season – so the spectre of losing all of the opening three for a first time since 1969 hangs over Sunday’s game.
Torino Serie A form:
Torino form (all competitions):
Lazio Serie A form:
Lazio form (all competitions):
Team News
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Having made several changes in midweek, Paolo Vanoli will revert to his strongest lineup against Lazio, with Ivan Ilic, Samuele Ricci and captain Duvan Zapata all coming back into the starting XI.
Incidentally, Zapata’s last eight league goals have been headers, and since the start of last season he is the top scorer (10) of headed goals across Europe’s top five leagues. The Colombian striker should be paired with either Antonio Sanabria or Che Adams up front.
Mergim Vojvoda and Nikola Vlasic are doubts due to muscular problems, while long-term absentee Perr Schuurs is nearing the end of his long journey back from an ACL injury.
Meanwhile, Lazio strikers Taty Castellanos and Boulaye Dia both overcame minor injuries to feature on Wednesday, and they could team up in the final third this weekend.
Tijjani Noslin was sent off against Dynamo Kiev, but as his subsequent suspension only applies to the Europa League he will also be in contention to start, with fellow forward and captain Mattia Zaccagni certainly returning to the side.
Only defensive duo Patric and Samuel Gigot are set to miss out through injury, leaving Marco Baroni an almost full hand to choose from.
Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Coco, Maripan, Masina; Lazaro, Ilic, Ricci, Linetty, Sosa; Sanabria, Zapata
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Rovella, Guendouzi; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos
We say: Torino 1-1 Lazio
Two well-matched teams are set to play out a low-scoring draw in Serie A’s Sunday lunchtime kickoff.
Torino have impressed under new management and may expect to win on home soil, but Lazio have rejuvenated their attack this season and pose any team a real threat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
