SportsMole previews Friday's Serie A clash between Torino and Como, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Now separated by two points Serie A standingsFormer leaders Turin He will be in charge of promotions. as Friday afternoon.
While El Toro have slipped away from the top with consecutive 3-2 defeats, their visitors have had a difficult start to climbing the table.
Competition Preview
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In recent weeks, Torino have gone from leading Serie A to mid-table mediocrity, with defeats against Lazio and Inter Milan followed by another defeat after the international break.
After fighting from behind to take the lead in Cagliari last week, thanks to goals Antonio Sanabria AND Carol Linetti – Toro blew its lead in the final 20 minutes, losing 3-2 for the third game in a row.
Although say adams The Turin club was defeated again when a close-range header was saved, the first time since October 2022 and has already lost three league games in a row.
After Granada's elimination in the second round of the Coppa Italia, a draw at home against Empoli was awarded, so the new coach Paolo Vanoli There is pressure to change things soon.
Having conceded three goals in three consecutive games for the first time in four years, Wanoli will be eager to stop that streak this weekend when his team takes on promoted opponents.
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Following their promotion as Serie B runners-up last season, Como have begun to show signs of adjusting to life in Italy's top flight, just as their hosts suffered an alarming dip in form.
Before losing his last match before the international break, against leaders Napoli, Lauriani went on a three-match unbeaten run that included his first Serie A win in 21 years.
head coach Cesc Fabregas Leaving the former Torino hero behind, he remains committed to his favorite forward Andrea Belotti and prefers a productive mix between Patrick Kudrone and the new Argentine international single bass.
The latter, a highly-rated Real Madrid youth product, scored his first goal in Serie A last weekend as Como earned a point after Parma took the lead at the Stadio Sinicaglia.
This took the Lombard club to nine points, two less than the hosts on Friday; They can overtake Toro with a win at the Stadio Olimpico Grande, where they lost 1-0 in their last league match almost 20 years ago.
Turin Serie A format:
Torino form (all matches):
As Series A:
Group messages
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Facing a match that precedes a series of difficult games that culminate in the Turin derby, Paolo Vanoli will be missing again. Ivan Ilyich AND Borna SauceTorino Captain Duane Zapata The whole season is over and By shores He delayed his return until 2025 due to a serious knee injury.
Good news for the country of origin, Adrian Tames And Marcus Pedersen should return after an illness, and the Chilean central defender Guillermo Maribán He is back on the team after his suspension.
Alternate captain Carol Linetti starts in midfield; In Zapata's absence, Chey Adams and Antonio Sanabria will continue their partnership up front.
Zapata and Adams scored three runs series a goals Como's Patrick Cutrone has four so far this season. The latter usually accompanies Nico Bass, Aliu Fatehrah AND Gabriel Strefezza In the last third.
Aside from minor concerns over midfield fulcrum sergi robertoThe Belgian full-back was ruled out last week due to a knock Ignace Van Der BremptCesc Fábregas will be able to choose from a squad in top shape.
Torino's probable starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Walukiewicz, Koko, Masina; Lazaro, Ricci, Linetti, Vlasic, Voivode; Adams, Sanabria
As a possible starting lineup:
Audiro; van der Brempt, Kempf, Dosena, Moreno; Perron, Roberto; Strefezza, Bajo, Fatera; Cutron
We say: Torino 1-1 Like
Torino can stop the rot after four consecutive defeats in all competitions, but an improved Como could still leave Turin with a point.
Not only have the visitors steadied the ship in recent weeks, but their attack has also become increasingly powerful.
Click here to see the data analysis of the most likely results, scores and more for this match.
