Como and Torino are separated by three places in the Serie A table as they head into Sunday’s gameweek 32 contest at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
Cesc Fabregas‘s men are nearly assured of their top-flight status for another year, while their Turin visitors have little to play for in the concluding rounds, with safety secured and European participation now unrealistic.
Match preview
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Como secured their first away victory since mid-February and their first top-flight success since defeating Napoli almost two months ago, all but securing their Serie A status.
With four points earned from a possible six in the top flight, Como moved to 33 points heading into this weekend, placing them nine points clear of 18th-placed Empoli with seven games remaining.
The Lariani could edge even closer to safety if they achieve their sixth home victory at the expense of Torino, extending an ongoing three-match streak without a loss in front of their supporters.
Those five points gained by the 13th-placed hosts could have been nine had they not conceded equalisers in 1-1 draws against Venezia and Empoli, highlighting the team’s broader struggles to maintain clean sheets both at home and away.
Como have failed to keep a shutout in seven consecutive games on their turf and have managed to avoid conceding in only one away game all season — February’s 2-0 triumph at Fiorentina — showcasing Fabregas’s side’s leaky defence.
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Torino will look to exploit those defensive vulnerabilities when they visit the Lombardy region this weekend, aiming to secure the double over Sunday’s hosts after a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture in October.
The Bull have been difficult to beat in Serie A since the start of the year, losing only to Bologna on February 14.
That 3-2 defeat ended a seven-match streak without a loss, although six of those matches resulted in draws. However, Torino have now enjoyed a six-match run that has seen three victories.
Like Como, Paolo Vanoli‘s team has also struggled to keep clean sheets, both in Turin and during away games, as the Bull have prevented only Monza from scoring in their last seven top-flight matches.
Nevertheless, the Turin outfit’s only defeat during this stretch came from the 3-2 disappointment at Bologna, against whom they led 2-1 before conceding two goals in the final 20 minutes.
Having avoided defeat in their last three away games, Vanoli’s men now aim to stretch their unbeaten run on the road to four matches for the second time this season.
With European qualification seemingly out of reach — Torino are 15 points behind sixth-placed Lazio — and relegation all but impossible, the Maroons have little to play for in the concluding weeks except to finish as high as possible in the standings.
Team News
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Aside from Alberto Dossena, who remains sidelined until next season due to a knee injury, Fabregas has a healthy squad to choose from.
Assane Diao and Nico Paz, both of whom have scored six league goals this term, should start in forward positions, aiming to provide decisive contributions on Sunday.
Although Sergi Roberto avoided a booking against Monza, the Spaniard is still one yellow card away from serving a one-match ban.
The same applies to Valentino Lazaro, but the wide man’s muscle injury means he will miss out this weekend regardless.
Also absent through suspension is Samuele Ricci after his red card against Hellas Verona, while Perr Schuurs (knee), Amine Salama (muscle), Alieu Njie (ankle) and Duvan Zapata (knee) are unavailable too.
While Che Adams leads the Bull’s goalscoring charts with eight goals, four of which have been match-winners, the forward enters this weekend with one strike in 10 appearances for club and country, having last scored against Parma on March 8.
Como possible starting lineup:
Butez; Vojvoda, Goldaniga, Kempf, Valle; Caqueret, Cunha; Strefezza, Paz, Diao; Douvikas
Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Walukiewicz, Maripan, Coco, Biraghi; Ginetis, Casadei, Ilic; Vlasic, Elmas; Adams
We say: Como 1-1 Torino
Como have scored and conceded in seven consecutive home fixtures, and Torino have kept one shutout in seven away fixtures, resulting in five draws.
Thus, the spoils could be shared between these sides in Sunday’s contest in Lombardy.
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