Preview: Torino vs. Lazio - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors arrive in Turin following an impressive fightback in their first fixture of the 2022-23 campaign, while their hosts saw off newly-promoted Monza.

Match preview

Within minutes of the first whistle in their Serie A opener, Lazio found their backs against the wall, as they were reduced to 10 men following Luis Maximiano's reckless dismissal on his debut.

The recently-arrived goalkeeper was sent off after six minutes against Bologna, and Maurizio Sarri's side then went on to concede the opening goal just before the break.

However, not for the first time under their idiosyncratic manager, Lazio turned things around from a losing position, and Ciro Immobile's 79th-minute winner sparked scenes of jubilation inside Stadio Olimpico.

That represented the fifth time since Sarri joined the club last summer they have effectively turned no points into three - only last term's runners-up Inter have managed more in the same period.

The Biancocelesti finished fifth last season, having radically overhauled their style, and are now targeting the top four, with inspirational captain Immobile and midfield fulcrum Sergej Milinkovic-Savic remaining in Rome to aid their cause.

Before they go head to head with likely top-four rivals Inter next Friday, Lazio will this week take on a side they have drawn with in each of their last three league meetings - but they remain unbeaten against Torino in over three years.

Since Torino last got the better of Saturday's visitors, back in May 2019, they have failed to beat them six times in a row; burning through five different managers in the process.

There have been plenty of turbulent times at Turin's second club during that spell, but under Ivan Juric's guidance Il Toro have charted a path back to Serie A's top 10.

After finishing 16th and 17th in successive seasons, Torino earned a place in the top half of the final standings last term, but star striker Andrea Belotti is currently seeking a new employer, while defensive rock Bremer has already departed for city rivals Juventus.

Nonetheless, a new recruit and Belotti's back-up both came to the fore in the Granata's opening league game last weekend, as Aleksei Miranchuk and Antonio Sanabria scored in a 2-1 win over ambitious Monza.

That followed a 3-0 victory in the Coppa Italia against Palermo a week earlier, so although Torino have won just one of their last eight home matches against Lazio, they may feel confident of faring better this time around.

Torino Serie A form:

Torino form (all competitions):

Lazio Serie A form:

Lazio form (all competitions):

Team News

As summer signing Luis Maximiano must serve a suspension following his dismissal on the opening day, another Lazio new boy will start in goal this week, as former Spezia stopper Ivan Provedel makes his debut.

Nicolo Casale is back from a ban, so could make his first appearance for the club too, and Maurizio Sarri may partner the former Verona man with Alessio Romagnoli in the visitors' back four - fellow defender Francesco Acerbi remains out in the cold.

Sarri will still be unable to call upon injured winger Pedro, who is recovering from an ankle problem, but Ciro Immobile leads the line up front: the ex-Torino striker has scored seven goals in his last seven Serie A meetings with his former club.

Meanwhile, Torino's defensive options will be bolstered by the arrival of Perr Schuurs from Ajax in midweek, while Alessandro Buongiorno returns from suspension.

However, the hosts will be without injured pair David Zima and Aleksei Miranchuk, the latter having sustained a thigh injury against Monza.

Toro coach Ivan Juric is set to stick with the 3-4-2-1 formation that served him so well last season, with Antonio Sanabria starting as the lone striker and West Ham loanee Nikola Vlasic stepping in to replace Miranchuk as one of two attacking midfielders.

Torino possible starting lineup:

Milinkovic-Savic; Djidji, Buongiorno, Rodriguez; Singo, Linetty, Ricci, Aina; Radonjic, Vlasic; Sanabria

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Basic; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni

We say: Torino 1-2 Lazio

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