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

13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Just over 24 hours after taking over as Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim has reportedly already been handed his first injury blow. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Iraq will welcome Jordan to the Basra International Stadium for Thursday's meeting in the Asian section of 2026 World Cup qualifying. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The action resumes in Group L of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as Burundi and Malawi go head to head at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted his target of reaching 1,000 career goals may be beyond him, as his career begins to wind down, raising questions about whether he could retire in the near future. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Insiders from Premier League clubs have reportedly blamed Thomas Tuchel and the FA for the huge spike in injury withdrawals from the upcoming England squad this month. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liechtenstein will travel to the Ta' Qali National Stadium on Thursday to take on Malta in an international friendly. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lionel Messi is set to captain Argentina when they travel to Asuncion to face Paraguay in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Thursday night. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Journalist and Arsenal expert Charles Watts cannot see a way back for Premier League referee David Coote if the alleged unverified video of him making disparaging remarks about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp is genuine. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala has dropped a hint about his future at the club, with contract talks said to be ongoing between the two parties. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's new manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly been handed an early transfer blow, with Bayern Munich stating that Leroy Sane is not for sale this January. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus with the view of signing the player next summer. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, Manchester City enter November's international break in the 2024-25 campaign sitting five points adrift of early leaders Liverpool after 11 matches played. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they have entered the international break on the back of losing four games in a row across all competitions for the first time since 2006 and for the first time ever under manager Pep Guardiola. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are not expected to respond to the emergence of an apparently damning video of Premier League referee David Coote in which the official made insulting and derisive comments regarding former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp until the PGMOL complete their investigation into the incident. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni will have goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez available for selection again when they face Paraguay in World Cup qualifying on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who is also attracting interest from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly interested in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan as a replacement for Ederson. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Villarreal head coach Marcelino has attempted to play down speculation linking the club with Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Goncalo Guedes. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides at opposite ends of the AFC FIFA World Cup qualifying Group B table come together on Thursday afternoon when Kuwait host group-leaders South Korea. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nigeria will hope to secure their spot in the 2025 African Cup of Nations when they face Benin at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brazil will be without Real Madrid duo Rodrygo and Eder Militao for their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier away in Venezuela on Thursday after both suffered first-half injuries in the win over Osasuna on Saturday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to enter the market for a new centre-back during the January transfer window. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After a promising set of results in October, Brazil return to action in World Cup qualifying when they travel to Maturin to face Venezuela on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to close the gap on the top two places in Group A, Qatar will host second-placed Usbekistan at the Khalifa International Stadium for an AFC World Cup qualifying clash on Thursday afternoon. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal dropped two points rather than gaining one in their 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but there were signs of the "old" Gunners team in West London. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have been punished for failing to adequately replace their most "important player" Martin Odegaard when the Norwegian was out with an ankle injury, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After making a fine start to their latest UEFA Nations League campaign, just one more point would ensure Italy qualify for the quarter-finals on Thursday, when they visit Belgium in Brussels. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium's task will be perfectly clear on Thursday evening, as they must win to stay in contention for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals when welcoming Italy to Brussels. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly identified a Benfica defender as a potential transfer target for 2025. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to return to winning ways following difficult matches during the October international window, Armenia and the Faroe Islands will lock horns in Yerevan for a UEFA Nations League C clash on Thursday night.