Torino FC face a potential early season relegation six pointer, with the Granata, opening the match day in 18th position, facing Cagliari, who began the match day in 17th position. This match takes place at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino. Both clubs are searching for their first win of the season, a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo accounting for the Sardinians only point of the season. In the previous match day, Cagliari lost 5-2 at Atalanta, while Torino’s match at Genoa was postponed due to an outbreak of corona virus within the Grifone squad.
In the pre match press conference, Torino coach Marco Giampaolo claimed that he had been working on defence with the players since the Atalanta game, and, following the international break, the squad was “working well with [Giampaolo].” Regarding new signing Federico Bonazzoli, the Granata mister said he can “Give us a big hand in attack together with Zaza, Belotti…”
Giampaolo stressed that he wants Granata captain and talisman Andrea Belotti to have the ball in the opponent’s defensive half, rather than in Torino’s defensive half, and he hoped that the midfielders would win the high ball in the midfield, and play Il Gallo in as close as possible to the opposition goal.
The Granata coach closed out his press conference by stating that the upcoming fixture glut, including the Coppa Italia vs Lecce, and the rescheduled game vs Genoa, should not be a problem, as long as he had his full squad available. Giampaolo did not seem worried about the fitness of his players, because “Almost everyone plays in their national teams, and this gives me a chance to rotate…”
Torino will be without defender Armando Izzo and striker Simone Zaza, both left out of the match day squad.
Overall this game will be a test for the Granata, but is one they must win, especially being a home game, if they are to avoid another relegation battle for the second consecutive season.
Prediction
Torino 2-1 Cagliari
