Torino start their first European campaign in 12 years on September 18 in the Jan Breydel Stadium, against Belgian Pro League runners-up Club Brugge.
Both sides were forced to go via the playoff route to enter the competition proper, with Torino triumphing over Croatian outfit RNK Split 1-0 on aggregate, compared to Club Brugge’s 3-1 aggregate win over Swiss side Grasshopper Club.
Brugge represent the only team in the Europa League’s Group B who Il Toro have met before, with the only meeting between the pair resulting in a 2-1 friendly victory for the Serie A side.
The home side are coached by Michel Preud’homme, and have lost their last five competitive games against Italian opponents. Conversely, Giampiero Ventura’s Torino have never lost to a Belgian side.
Torino don’t face any fresh injury concerns, but midfielders Alexander Farnerud and Migjen Basha are still unavailable for selection. Even so, it would be surprising to see an unchanged lineup from a side yet to score a Serie A goal this term.
The Blauw-Zwart’s squad is completely free of injuries, despite already playing 11 competitive games this season.
The form of Brugge this season has been indifferent to say the least. The domestic giants sit in sixth after winning just two games from their opening seven fixtures. Goalkeeper Matthew Ryan has been vocal about his side’s poor form, claiming that his side must find their feet before they are cut too far adrift.
Torino are placed in 17th in Italy’s top flight, but can find some solace in the fact that only two games have passed. However, the performances in those two games have been lacklustre and the fans will be hoping for an improved performance sooner rather than later.
Expected Starting XIs
Club Brugge – Ryan; Meunier, Engels, Duarte, De Bock; Simons, Vormer; Oulare, Gedoz, Izquierdo; Vazquez
Torino – Padelli; Bovo, Glik, Moretti; Maksimovic, Nocerino, El Kaddouri, Darmian; Vives; Amauri, Martinez
