Romavs.Torino

Ivan Juric comes face to face with his old team after surviving crisis talks at the capital club, desperate to bounce back from a humbling defeat.

Match preview

Thumped 5-1 by Fiorentina last weekend, Roma slumped into the bottom half of the Serie A standings, prompting speculation that their recently appointed boss would be relieved of his duties.

The Giallorossi were previously edged out by Inter Milan, before picking up a first win from three games in the Europa League, continuing a mixed start for Ivan Juric, who succeeded club hero Daniele De Rossi.

Roma had started October by losing to Elfsborg and drawing with Monza, so it has been a pretty dismal month thus far, and they will be keen not to end it by recording three straight Serie A defeats for the first time since 2020.

Though top scorer Artem Dovbyk has started to find the net, an expensively assembled attack keeps failing to click, and the Eternal City side average just one goal per game, ranking 14th in Italy's top flight.

However, history will be on their side as they aim to remedy that record on Thursday: Roma have won 12 of their last 14 league games against Torino at Stadio Olimpico, scoring some 35 goals in the process.

Also unbeaten in six Serie A matches versus Juric's former club - either home or away - they are under pressure to keep that streak going and placate their unsettled support.

After taking over from Juric in the summer, Paolo Vanoli made a fine start to life as Torino head coach, leading the Turin club towards the top of the standings.

More recently, Toro followed back-to-back defeats against Lazio and Inter - plus a Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Empoli - with another loss straight after the last international break.

Losing 3-2 to Cagliari was a bitter blow to take, but the Granata finally halted their downturn last time out, when teenager Alieu Njie scored the only goal against Como, just 10 minutes after emerging from the bench.

Having conceded three goals in three consecutive games for the first time in four years, Vanoli was pleased both to stem that flow and take his team up to ninth place in the table.

Torino's tally of 14 points so far is their best at this stage of a campaign since 2016, and victory in Rome would take them seven clear of a potential top-six rival.

Roma Serie A form:

D

W

W

D

L

L

Roma form (all competitions):

W

L

D

L

W

L

Torino Serie A form:

D

W

L

L

L

W

Torino form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

L

W

Team News

Roma will definitely be without Alexis Saelemaekers and Mario Hermoso, the latter of whom must serve a suspension, but Stephan El Shaarawy could overcome a calf problem in time to make the matchday squad.

Having just lost 5-1 and with a game on Sunday lying ahead, Ivan Juric may make some changes to his starting XI, though Artem Dovbyk is again set to lead the line up front.

Matias Soule is now available and can compete for selection with an off-form Paulo Dybala, who has scored eight league goals against Torino to date, never losing in 19 Serie A meetings with Thursday's opponents.

Meanwhile, Toro will again be missing Ivan Ilic and Borna Sosa, while captain Duvan Zapata is out for the rest of the season and Perr Schuurs has yet to return from a serious knee injury.

Che Adams and Antonio Sanabria are expected to continue their partnership up front, with Polish midfielder Karol Linetty skippering the side in Zapata's absence.

Roma possible starting lineup:

Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Angelino; Celik, Cristante, Kone, Zalewski; Pellegrini, Dybala; Dovbyk

Torino possible starting lineup:

Milinkovic-Savic; Coco, Maripan, Masina; Vojvoda, Ricci, Linetty, Vlasic, Lazaro; Adams, Sanabria

We say: Roma 2-2 Torino

Torino have both scored and conceded 10 goals away from home this season, averaging two per game, and that trend could continue in the capital.

As a disjointed Roma side are still struggling for form amid confusion off the pitch, the hosts may fail to win once again.

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