Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 5 May 2023, 13:50
Locked together on points in the Serie A standings, Torino and Monza both aim to boost their hopes of a top-half finish when they meet on Sunday.

While Toro won in midweek, when they heaped more misery on Sampdoria, their visitors earned the latest eye-catching result of their first top-flight campaign, holding Roma to a draw.

Match preview

Applying another nail to Samp's coffin, Torino posted their second straight away win on Wednesday, as they followed up last month's surprise success against Lazio by beating the Serie B-bound Blucerchiati 2-0 in Genoa.

Alessandro Buongiorno's first Serie A goal gave Toro the lead before half time, and Pietro Pellegri confirmed all three points with a stoppage-time strike; keeping his team on track for a top-half finish.

However, Ivan Juric's side have not won any of their last four home fixtures ahead of Monza's visit this weekend, taking just one point from a possible 12 in Turin since mid-March.

While they possess Serie A's sixth-best record on the road this season, Torino have won only five times at home - scoring a meagre 13 goals in 16 games - so Juric will be keen to improve that record ahead of visits from Fiorentina and Inter in the final weeks of an inconsistent campaign.

History is certainly on their side as they aim to do so, as the Granata have lost only one of 21 meetings with Monza in the league or the Coppa Italia, including last August's reverse fixture.

Right at the start of their top-flight debut, Monza were left floundering at the foot of the table, with a 2-1 home defeat to Torino playing its part in the demise of former boss Giovanni Stroppa.

By contrast, under his predecessor Raffaele Palladino they have thrived and now arrive at Stadio Olimpico Grande di Torino level on points with their hosts and sitting safely in mid-table.

Following his heroics against former club Inter at San Siro, centre-back Luca Caldirola struck again on Wednesday evening as Monza drew 1-1 with European contenders Roma; extending their impressive unbeaten streak to five matches.

Featuring successive wins over Inter, Fiorentina and Spezia, that run has helped the Biancorossi keep pace with their rivals for a top-10 finish, and they lie only one point shy of eighth place with just five games to go.

Having also done the double over Torino's city rivals Juventus in a fine first season among Italy's elite, it seems Monza fear no-one, so they will surely seek victory rather than settling for an away point.

Torino Serie A form:

D

L

D

W

L

W

Monza Serie A form:

L

D

W

W

W

D

Team News

Due to injury, Torino may still be missing Nemanja Radonjic, Ola Aina and David Zima this weekend, while they will definitely be without Wilfried Singo on their right wing.

After the latter was recalled against Sampdoria, in place of Valentino Lazaro, the pair's roles will be reversed on Sunday as Singo must now serve a suspension for accumulated bookings.

Aleksei Miranchuk - who scored in the reverse fixture - and Andreaw Gravillon are both contenders to return from the start, too, with Demba Seck most likely making way for the former.

Meanwhile, Monza hope to have Andrea Petagna back in time for the trip to Turin, though Dany Mota and Gianluca Caprari are set to feature up front in any case.

Raffaele Palladino would therefore have a full squad to choose from, but the visitors' coach is not expected to make many changes to a successful starting XI, with six-goal top scorer Carlos Augusto offering a major threat on the left flank.

Torino possible starting lineup:

Milinkovic-Savic; Gravillon, Buongiorno, Schuurs; Lazaro, Ricci, Ilic, Rodriguez; Miranchuk, Vlasic; Sanabria

Monza possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; Caldirola, Mari, Izzo; Ciurria, Rovella, Pessina, Augusto; Colpani, Caprari; Petagna

We say: Torino 1-1 Monza

Previews by email

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon.