Torino are looking for a first win of Group B as they prepare to host FC Copenhagen at the Stadio Olympico on Thursday in the Europa League.
The Granata drew their opening match away to Club Brugge 0-0, meaning they have catching up to do as Copenhagen lead the group after dispatching of Finnish champions HJK Helsinki 2-0 in the all Nordic clash on matchday one.
This will be a first meeting between the sides in their present guises; the Italians did face the team that would later merge with another Danish capital club to become Thursday’s opponents. Emiliano Mondonico’s Torino won home and away to knock B 1903 København out of the 1991/92 UEFA Cup quarter-finals.
Torino went on to knock out Real Madrid before cruelly losing to Ajax on away goals. That summer B 1903 merged with Kjøbenhavns BK to become FC Copenhagen.
The 10 times Danish champion’s though, have faced Italian opposition three times since, but coach Stale Solbakken brings his side back to Turin almost a year after their clash with Torino’s city neighbours in the Champions League. After earning a draw at home, Copenhagen succumbed to a Arturo Vidal hat-trick in a 3-1 defeat at the Juventus Stadium.
Torino come into this fixture encouraged by a slight upturn in form after having previously gone four matches of the Serie A campaign without a win. Giampiero Ventura’s young charges won for the first time away to Cagliari last week before a point at home to Fiorentina at the weekend. They lie 12th but, with only five points, and are just two points above the drop zone.
Copenhagen are not fairing much better domestically after an away draw with Sonderjyske followed a home win against Brondby. A mixed start to the Danish Superliga has left last season’s runners up fifth and already nine points behind surprise leaders Midtjylland.
Torino have a clean bill of health ahead of this one but there have been suggestions that Ventura will choose to rest recently in-form striker Fabio Quagliarella. The 31-year-old broke his duck for his new club with has two goals in as many games but could be saved for the league with Amauri, also a former Juventus forward, expected to be given the nod to start.
Copenhagen have their own ex-Bianconeri man but Christian Poulson only signed for the club on September 30 so will not feature. The Lions have injury doubts over Steve De Ridder, Bashkim Kadrii and Tom Høgli although Solbakken will be glad he can call upon two goal hero in round 1 Nicolai Jorgensen to partner one-time Cardiff striker Andreas Cornelius.
Expected Starting XIs
Torino: Gillet, Jansson, Gaston Silva, Bovo, Darmian, Vives, Benassi, Sanchez Mino, Molinaro, Larrondo, Amauri.
Copenaghen: Andersen, Bengtsson, Nilsson, M. Jorgensen, Amartey, Kacaniklic, Toutouh, Claudemir, Gislason, N. Jorgensen, Cornelius.
