After taking just one point from their last six Serie A matches, relegation-haunted Empoli will seek an overdue win on Saturday, when they visit mid-table Torino.
Despite enjoying an unprecedented journey into the Coppa Italia semi-finals, the Azzurri have been dismal in the league this calendar year, while their hosts are proving particularly tough to beat.
Match preview
© Imago
Leaving them trailing behind 10th-placed Udinese in the race for a top-half finish, Torino twice let a one-goal lead slip last weekend, as lowly hosts Parma fought back to avoid defeat at Stadio Tardini.
Continuing his good run of form since arriving in the winter transfer window, Eljif Elmas opened the scoring, and Che Adams later put Toro back in front, but they ultimately had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Nonetheless, Paolo Vanoli‘s men have lost just one of their last eight matches away from Turin and are among the toughest teams to defeat throughout Italy’s top flight.
Now 11 unbeaten in Serie A, including seven draws, the Granata are both too far below the top six and too far clear of the bottom three to expect anything other than a mid-table place when their campaign concludes in May.
Dumped out of the Coppa Italia by Empoli earlier this season, Torino took their revenge in December’s league clash at Stadio Castellani, where Adams scored the winner. So, following that 1-0 win in Tuscany, they now aim to do the double.
© Imago
Having toppled Torino in the second round, Empoli then upset local rivals Fiorentina to reach the cup quarter-finals, where they then shocked Toro’s old foes Juventus.
A penalty shootout success on their last trip to Turin broke new ground by setting up the club’s first Coppa Italia semi-final – but their league form has been flat-lining for some time now.
So, before playing Bologna over two legs next month – with the winner to meet either one of the Milan clubs in Rome – a familiar fight for Serie A survival is at hand.
After a promising start to his reign, head coach Roberto D’Aversa has seen his side free-fall into the relegation zone, and they sit two points shy of 17th-placed Parma following last week’s 1-0 home loss to Roma.
A recent run of five defeats from six games – by an aggregate scoreline of 16-2 – has put the Azzurri’s top-flight status in serious jeopardy, and they may soon be praying for another dramatic last-day escape.
Team News
© Imago
Though Paolo Vanoli is still without Alieu Njie, plus long-term absentees Perr Schurrs and Duvan Zapata, a trio of Torino players are set to be passed fit for Saturday’s game.
Valentino Lazaro and Antonio Sanabria should overcome knocks that have caused them to train individually, while Ivan Ilic has recovered from the bout of flu that saw him miss last week’s trip to Parma.
Vanoli has kept a settled side for the past few weeks, with recent arrivals Cesare Casadei and Eljif Elmas taking on key roles. The latter has just scored in three consecutive away games, and Casadei is now the preferred midfield partner for Samuele Ricci.
Meanwhile, Empoli continue to feel the effects of a long injury list featuring three men who will not be back in action until next season.
First-choice defenders Mattia Viti and Ardian Ismajli may also miss out, while Jacopo Fazzini remains doubtful; Youssef Maleh, Szymon Zurkowski and Ola Solbakken are still sidelined.
Tino Anjorin is expected to complete his recovery from a muscular problem, though, and he could compete for a place in the visitors’ midfield.
Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Walukiewicz, Maripan, Coco, Biraghi; Ricci, Casadei; Lazaro, Vlasic, Elmas; Adams
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Marianucci, De Sciglio; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Cacace, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo
We say: Torino 1-0 Empoli
Draw specialists Torino should turn their customary one point into three this weekend, as injury-hit Empoli are in awful form.
Despite celebrating two big cup wins in Turin this season, the Azzurri are now set to suffer defeat, leaving them stuck inside Serie A’s bottom three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
