Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino forms the backdrop for Saturday’s tasty-looking Serie A encounter between tenth-placed Torino and top-four-bidding Roma. As the season approaches the run-in, every game matters, especially for the visitors, whose Champions League pursuit hangs by a thread.
The wheels fell off Torino’s pursuit of European placings long ago. However, they could still influence the top-six race, starting with Roma’s visit to Turin on Saturday. Ivan Juric’s men head into proceedings seeking a way back to the right track after going from back-to-back league victories in early March to consecutive games without winning (D1, L1).
Antonio Sanabria scored midway through the second half to help Torino to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Sassuolo last weekend. But the Granata should consider themselves lucky for walking away from the Mapei Stadium unbeaten, considering Alessio Dionisi’s side outplayed them top to bottom. Torino’s showing at Sassuolo perhaps best illustrates their current position in the standings.
Unlike their hosts, Roma excelled in the last Serie A round, taking full advantage of going a man up in the first half to dismantle relegation-battling Sampdoria 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico. In addition to halting a two-match losing league run, Jose Mourinho’s men have tightened their grip on fourth-placed Inter, with only one point separating the two sides at the start of this round.
But to tighten the noose even further will require Roma to overcome their travel sickness. Since a 2-0 beating of lowly Spezia in January, the Giallorossi have gone winless on their last four Serie A travels, picking up just one point in this run (D1, L3). With the Europa League quarter-final trip to Feyenoord waiting in the wings, Mourinho’s charges need every encouragement they can get.
There’s hardly a better way to settle the nerves than winning.
Match Preview
Torino
Following a humiliating 4-0 home loss to runaway leaders Napoli in their most recent Serie A outing at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, Juric’s team could lose back-to-back home league games for the first time since May 2022. If you’re looking for an omen, their second defeat in that run came to non-other than Roma, which forms part of their woeful five-game H2H home form (W1, L4).
Against this backdrop, this is a fixture Torino have enjoyed hosting down the years, as witnessed by their outstanding all-time home record against Roma (W37, D28, L16). No matter the odds, the Granata should be enthusiastic about furthering those stats after suffering just two defeats in their last eight home league matches (W4, D2).
Flying out of the traps first will be crucial. Each of Torino’s four Serie A home games (won/lost) in 2023 has seen the winners on the day keep a clean sheet.
Player to Watch: Antonio Sanabria
After rescuing a point for Torino last time out, Sanabria will be keen to lace up his scoring boots in Turin. Curiously, as many as seven of his eight Serie A goals this season have come on hostile turf.
Roma
Speaking of the significance of breaking the deadlock, Roma’s ability to hold onto the lead has been off the charts in Serie A this term. Alongside leaders Napoli, the Giallorossi have dropped a league joint-low two points from winning positions in 2022/23, so the visitors’ potential opener may put this match-up beyond Torino’s reach.
Despite their well-documented travel sickness, Roma have been impressive in 2023, with only Napoli and Juventus clocking more Serie A wins than them (seven) since the turn of the year. Defensive-wise, they’ve been equally efficient, keeping a league third-high seven clean sheets in the new calendar year.
With all that in mind, Roma will be desperate for a strong start in Turin.
Player to Watch: Paulo Dybala
Back to the scoresheet against Sampdoria last time out, Paulo Dybala now faces familiar foes, looking to pick up where he left off during his trophy-laden spell at Juventus. The Argentine has never lost a personal H2H clash against Torino (W11, D7).
Team News
Torino boss Juric will have a substantial selection headache. Ivan Ilic, Ola Aina, Yann Karamoah, David Zima, and Ronaldo Vieira are in the treatment room. Therefore, he’ll have to rotate his squad a lot, which may benefit Roma’s bid to defy their poor away form.
Unlike their hosts, the Giallorossi will have the entire first-team squad, barring Rick Karsdorp, ready to take this trip after Marash Kumbulla served a two-game ban.
Torino vs Roma Potential Lineups
Torino (3-4-2-1): Vanja Milinkovic-Savic; Andreaw Gravillon, Perr Schuurs, Alessandro Buongiorno; Wilfried Singo, Samuele Ricci, Karol Linetty, Ricardo Rodriguez; Nikola Vlasic, Aleksei Miranchuk; Antonio Sanabria.
Roma (3-4-2-1): Rui Patricio; Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, Roger Ibanez; Nicola Zalewski, Bryan Cristante, Georginio Wijnaldum, Leonardo Spinazzola; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Paulo Dybala; Tammy Abraham.
Torino vs Roma Prediction
While we wouldn’t put it past Torino to pounce on Roma’s woeful away record, we’re more inclined to anticipate a draw here.
Prediction: Draw
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