Torino vs Lazio – News and Probable Lineups

Torino faces a crucial challenge to maintain their Serie A status as they prepare to host Lazio in Turin this Sunday evening under new management.

After a string of poor results that left them in a precarious position, Toro opted to make a managerial change, while their opponents from the capital are also experiencing difficulties.

Match overview

In their last match against Genoa, Torino found themselves two goals down before halftime, and Emirhan Ilkhan’s dismissal just before the break effectively dashed their hopes, resulting in a 3-0 defeat.

This loss prompted club president Urbano Cairo to act swiftly, terminating the contract of head coach Marco Baroni and appointing Roberto D’Aversa as interim manager.

Baroni, who took over last summer from Lazio, had a promising start, but the situation deteriorated after November’s international break, during which his side conceded 31 goals and suffered 10 defeats, both the worst records in the league.

In his last eight games, Toro managed only one win while keeping just one clean sheet, resulting in a drop to 15th in the Serie A table.

D’Aversa has been brought in on a short-term basis until June and will take charge of a team that sits three points above the relegation zone, having gained only four points in the latter half of the season.

With their lowest point tally at this stage since 2021, the Granata are in turmoil, and recent home matches have seen dwindling crowds as supporters express their dissatisfaction with Cairo’s ownership.

Lazio fans are also vocal about their frustrations, as their club currently sits 10th in the league and is poised to miss out on European competition for the second consecutive season.

Following a scoreless draw against Cagliari last week, the capital side has secured just one victory from their last six league encounters.

However, during this downturn, they reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals, with the first leg against Atalanta scheduled for early next month, making this cup competition their best chance for redemption this season.

Despite struggling at home, where repeated fan protests have affected their performances, Maurizio Sarri’s players have shown a stronger form away from home.

While Lazio has the joint-lowest tally of away goals, they also rank first in terms of goals conceded, allowing only nine, and have not lost an away match since November.

Having played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture – saved by Danilo Cataldi’s dramatic penalty in the 103rd minute – they approach the match against Torino, a side they have defeated only once in their last 13 league encounters.

Team News

It’s uncertain whether D’Aversa will implement significant changes to Torino’s starting XI, making his selection for Sunday’s match unclear.

The former Lecce manager will be missing Che Adams and Tino Anjorin due to injury, and Ilkhan is serving a suspension following his red card last weekend.

In the absence of Adams – who has a thigh issue – Duvan Zapata, Alieu Njie, and Sandro Kulenovic will compete with Giovanni Simeone for a starting position up front.

Simeone has a favorable record against Lazio, having scored 10 goals against the club previously, including one in the earlier encounter.

Meanwhile, Matteo Cancellieri has netted three Serie A goals versus Torino – including two in the matchup last October – but has since found himself out of favor with Lazio manager Sarri.

The winger is eager to reclaim his place in an attack that has struggled to score, as the Biancocelesti have not found the back of the net in their last two games.

Sarri still has several players unavailable: Pedro, Toma Basic, Manuel Lazzari, Samuel Gigot, and Mario Gila are all out, while Italy international Nicolo Rovella is sidelined with a broken collarbone.

Torino probable starting XI:

Paleari; Marianucci, Maripan, Coco; Pedersen, Casadei, Gineitis, Vlasic, Obrador; Simeone, Kulenovic

Lazio probable starting XI:

Provedel; Marusic, Proxgaard, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Belahyane, Cataldi, Taylor; Cancellieri, Maldini, Zaccagni

This encounter is likely to be less expansive than the six-goal thriller in Rome, considering the current circumstances are rather bleak.

With both teams feeling pressure from their supporters, Lazio may find it advantageous to play away, while Torino’s decline toward the relegation zone is set to continue.