Lazio v Torino – Preview: Sign o’ the times

Date: 24th October 2014 at 8:25am
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On Sunday evening Torino head to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to face an inform Lazio side hoping to extend a run of three straight victories in Serie A and continue their climb up the table.

However, after the Granata finally secured victory on home soil against Udinese last weekend Giampiero Ventura will be aiming to halt the Biancocelesti’s surge skywards by claiming three vital points to move out of the bottom half of the standings.

Last season in Rome the match between the two sides was one of the most entertaining of the Serie A season as they played out an exhilarating 3-3 draw with Antonio Candreva last-gasp strike recovering a point for the Aquile.

The hosts led twice through Stefano Mauri and the Italian international’s opener only to pegged back by Jasmin Kurtic and Panagiotis Tachtsidis strikes before Ciro Immobile looked to have snatched victory in the 89th minute only for Candreva to net four minutes into stoppage time.

While a repeat would please the fans, Ventura would prefer is a far less actioned packed fixture this time around much like in Turin last December when a solitary goal from Kamil Glik secured the points for his side as the Biancocelesti barely threatened their defensive line despite controlling possession.

Stefano Pioli’s side start the match as favourites, however, it must be noted that their recent winning run has come against a newly promoted Palermo, a struggling Sassuolo and an erratic Fiorentina, and regardless of how impressive a victory in Florence is there are sterner tests to come.

Goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet returning for Torino has given the side improved defensive resilience but will be examined more than against a misfiring Zebrette with Lazio one of the inform attacks in Serie A. Striker Filip Djordjevic looking an astute acquisition from Nantes this summer with five goals to his name.

Torino’s reliance on frontman Fabio Quagliarella have been highlighted on more than one occasion and it was the former Juventus striker who was again the difference as with the only goal last Sunday and his teammates must start contributing more in attack.

To reduce the burden on free scoring Quagliarella, Torino would welcome the return of fellow attackers Alejandro Larrondo and Paulo Barreto in the capital providing the both are passed fit to be involved, but Migien Basha is probably another week from returning to action although Antonio Nocerino is available.

For Lazio defender Santiago Gentiletti is a long-term absentee and unlikely to return until the backend of the campaign, however, while not an automatic starter, the Biancolcelesti could feel the loss of Dusan Basta, Stefano Mauri and exciting youngster Keita Balde who will all not quite make it in time.

Expected Starting XIs

Lazio: Marchetti; Cavanda, Cana, De Vrij, Radu; Parolo, Biglia, Onazi; Candreva, Djordjevic, Lulic

Torino: Gillet; Maksimovic, Glik, Moretti; Peres, Gazzi, Vives, Sanchez Mino, Darmian; Amauri, Quagliarella

 

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