A floundering Torino will hope to end their recent downturn of form against Palermo on Saturday. The Granata have lost all but one of their last five games in all competitions, including an agonizing defeat to city rivals Juventus in last weekend’s Derby della Mole.
With just three wins from 13 league games, the Granata, who lost prolific attackers Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci during this summer’s transfer market, currently sit in 15th place with 12 points, only two above relegation battling Chievo.
Meanwhile, Palermo, upon their return to Italian football’s top flight have not fared that much better, with four wins and a total of 17 points. Nonetheless, the Rosanero still enjoy a slightly better track record in their last quintet of fixtures, having won two, drawn two, and lost one.
Yet, despite their struggles, history is on the hosts’ side. One would have to go way back to October 16, 1932 to find the last time the visitors won on the road, and overall, Torino enjoys the better head-to-head record with 18 wins versus the Sicilian side’s 10 over the course of 40 matches.
Fans of both teams will certainly be hoping that the goal-scoring gods will smile down on the Stadio Olimpico, since the last time the duo met during the 2012/2013 league campaign, both games ended as frustrating scoreless stalemates.
In terms of available personnel, Giampiero Ventura will be without only Alessandro Gazzi due to suspension, but has quite a few players who are struggling with injury. Antonio Nocerino, Salvatore Masiello, Migjen Basha, and Marco Benassi are all on the treatment table, but Basha is one that could be evaluated before the clash.
As for Palermo’s Giuseppe Iachini, while injured trio Simon Makienok, Granddi Ngoyi, and Sol Bamba will not likely be out for the long haul, he will have to do without both captain Edgar Barreto and Franco Vazquez who will miss out due to a ban.
Expected Starting XIs
Torino: Gillet; Maksimovic, Glik, Moretti; Peres, Vives, Farnerud, Darmian; El Kaddouri; Amauri, Quagliarella
Palermo: Sorrentino; Munoz, G. Gonzalez, Andelkovic; Morganella, Bolzoni, Maresca, Chochev, Lazaar; Belotti, Dybala
