Just two games into the new campaign, Sinisa Mihajlovic is already turning the Granata into a dangerous opponent based on their performances against AC Milan and Bologna.
Torino are showing some potential and competitiveness under new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic after just two rounds of the 2016-17 Serie A season.
After achieving qualification for the Europa League with Sampdoria in 2014-15, the Serbian was hired by AC Milan for the following campaign but he struggled to produce consistent results and he was sacked before the season concluded.
Since then, Mihajlovic has replaced Giampiero Ventura as the Torino coach and he has immediately been able to implement his philosophy on the squad.
The Serbian tactician has usually constructed hard-working teams that are also organised in defence but this Granata side also possesses an attacking threat.
In the first round of Serie A action, Toro were defeated 3-2 by Milan, but they were unlucky not to secure a point at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza after Andrea Belotti’s weakly struck penalty was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
A week later they bounced back and the Granata registered a comprehensive 5-1 victory against Bologna in front of their home fans, with Belotti collecting a hat-trick despite failing to score another penalty.
Although he has squandered two penalties, the 22-year-old has scored four goals in just two matches this season and it already looks like he could have a breakthrough year.
Unfortunately, he picked up a muscular injury while on international duty with Italy, which could keep him out for as much as three weeks, but it could just be a small blip in what has already been an impressive start for the promising striker.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Argentine veteran Maxi Lopez or starlet Lucas Boye could play at centre-forward against Atalanta on Sunday afternoon in place of Belotti. The former River Plate striker is only 20 years old but he has made an impact whenever he has come off the bench.
Boye has usually been used on the wings but he has demonstrated great comfort on the ball for someone his age. Adem Ljajic is yet to make an impact because of injury problems but Josef Martinez has been a fine performer in the wide positions.
Torino also get a lot of width from defence and full-backs Lorenzo De Silvestri and Cristian Molinaro have already provided two assists each. Although wing-play has been an important part of the Granata’s play, the central midfielders have been vital to the way Mihajlovic wants his team to play.
Against Milan Joel Obi and Afriyie Acquah supported Giuseppe Vives in midfield but the two box-to-box midfielders did not provide enough in terms of creativity.
Their places were taken by Marco Benassi and Daniele Baselli against Bologna and the Italian starlets were able to provide more creativity and attacking drive from midfield. Baselli in particular has been impressive, scoring two goals in as many games from midfield.
With the acquisitions of goalkeeper Joe Hart from Manchester City and playmaker Mirko Valdifiori from Napoli just before the transfer window closed, Torino build on their performances in the first two rounds become a more formidable unit.
If the Granata can collect more results and perform more consistently, Mihajlovic might be able to resurrect his coaching career after his anti-climactic spell with Milan.
