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

Lazio will travel to the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino having not won in their last three competitive matches, but they do have a point more than their opponents, having collected seven points from their opening four league fixtures.

Match preview

Torino have endured two disappointing seasons, finishing in 16th position in the 2019-20 edition of Serie A and then last season they avoided the drop by four points after ending the campaign in 17th place.

This term did not start much better, losing 2-1 on the opening day at home to Atalanta BC and then suffering defeat on their travels by the same scoreline against Fiorentina.

The international break enabled the side to take stock and they returned from the interval a completely different team, thrashing Salernitana at home 4-0 to give them their first points of the season.

Then at the weekend their encounter with Sassuolo was seemingly drifting to a goalless conclusion until substitute Marko Pjaca produced some magic to find the bottom corner and give Il Toro their second victory in a row.

Having scored five goals in their last two games without conceding, Torino will hope they can produce another impressive performance on Thursday to beat Lazio - a side they have not been victorious against in their last four meetings.

Lazio had an eventful summer that saw Simone Inzaghi leave to join Inter Milan after spending five years in charge of the Biancocelesti, and the hierarchy at the club decided Maurizio Sarri should be his successor.

Sarri watched on from the sidelines as his side flew out of the traps in their first two fixtures, comfortably beating Empoli 3-1 away on the opening day and then hammering Spezia 6-1 at home the following week.

In contrast to Torino who started slowly and improved, Lazio have done the opposite having only collected a point in their last two Serie A games and sandwiched between those league fixtures was a narrow defeat to Galatasaray in the Europa League.

Lazio welcomed Cagliari to the Stadio Olimpico at the weekend but needed an 83rd-minute strike from Danilo Cataldi to salvage a point after Ciro Immobile's opener had been cancelled out by two second-half goals.

Lazio's last trip to Torino was eventful with the Biancocelesti scoring twice in stoppage time to seal a dramatic 4-3 win, and Sarri will take confidence from the fact that Lazio have only lost once in their last five away fixtures against Thursday's opponents.

Torino Serie A form:

Torino form (all competitions):

Lazio Serie A form:

Lazio form (all competitions):

Team News

Torino have both Simone Edera and Armando Izzo unavailable due to injury problems.

The hosts are also without star striker Andrea Belotti, and the match may come too soon for Simone Zaza and Simone Verdi to return.

Il Toro boss Ivan Juric will have to replace Dennis Praet in the starting lineup after the Belgian suffered a hamstring injury against Sassuolo, so Karol Linetty could come into the midfield.

Lazio's only injury concern is Bobby Adekanye, who is still out with a knee problem.

After his goal at the weekend, Cataldi could come into the starting lineup to replace Lucas Leiva, who may be rested on Thursday.

Sarri has the option to rest others but is likely to name a similar lineup in a bid to get back to winning ways.

Torino possible starting lineup:

Milinkovic-Savic; Rodriguez, Bremer, Djidji; Singo, Pobega, Linetty, Lukic, Aina; Brekalo, Sanabria

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Reina; Lazzari, Luis Felipe, Acerbi, Hysaj; Alberto, Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi; Pedro, Anderson, Immobile

We say: Torino 1-2 Lazio

Torino will not be fearful entering this contest having won their last two games, but they will be aware that Lazio pose a tougher task than their last two opponents.

The visitors will know Torino will cause them problems, but Sarri's men should have enough quality to win this one, although it will be a close encounter and the visitors shall be looking for Ciro Immobile to grab the goals once again.