As the Serie A season reaches the half way point, Torino and Genoa prepare to face off in a closely contested mid-table battle at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Saturday evening. With just one point separating the two sides in the standings, this match could prove pivotal in determining their final league positions.
Torino, currently sitting in 11th place, have shown impressive resilience in recent weeks. The Granata are undefeated in their last six league games, though five of those results have been draws. Their most recent outing saw them hold high-flying Atalanta to a 1-1 draw in Bergamo, where Guillermo Maripan’s equalizer and a crucial penalty save from goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic secured a valuable point.
Genoa, under the guidance of former Arsenal and France midfielder Patrick Vieira, find themselves in 12th place, just one point behind their hosts. The Grifone have displayed a balanced form in their last nine Serie A matches, recording three wins, three draws, and three defeats. However, they enter this fixture on the back of a 2-1 loss to Fiorentina, where former Genoa star Albert Gudmundsson scored the winning goal against his old club.
The historical head-to-head record heavily favors Torino, especially when playing at home. The Granata have won 26 and lost only one of their last 40 home games against Genoa in Serie A. However, recent meetings between the two sides have been closely contested, with December’s reverse fixture ending in a goalless draw.
The match is likely to be decided in the midfield, where Torino’s duo of Ricci and Tameze will face off against Genoa’s three-man unit. The home side’s ability to control possession and create chances for their forwards could be crucial.
Defensively, Torino’s impressive home record of clean sheets will be put to the test against a Genoa side that has shown improvement under Vieira’s guidance. The battle between Torino’s center-back pairing of Maripan and Coco against Genoa’s Pinamonti could be particularly intriguing.
Team News
Torino manager Paolo Vanoli has strengthened his squad during the January transfer window, with new signings Cesare Casadei, Eljif Elmas, and former Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi all in contention to feature. However, the hosts will be without long-term absentees Perr Schuurs and Duvan Zapata, while Alieu Njie has recently undergone surgery on a serious leg injury.
Vanoli is likely to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, with top scorer Che Adams leading the line. Behind him, the creative trio of Lazaro, Vlasic, and Karamoh will look to provide the attacking impetus. In goal, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who has made the most saves (86) in Serie A this season, will be crucial to Torino’s defensive efforts.
Genoa, meanwhile, have had a relatively quiet transfer window, with Jean Onana and Sebastian Otoa joining the squad. However, Patrick Vieira will have to contend with several absences. Maxwell Cornet is ruled out with a thigh problem, Ruslan Malinovskyi is injured, and Koni De Winter is suspended. Mattia Bani remains a doubt, potentially forcing Vieira to reshuffle his defensive line.
The visitors are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Andrea Pinamonti spearheading the attack. The midfield trio of Frendrup, Badelj, and Thorsby will be key in controlling the tempo of the game and providing support to both defense and attack.
Expected Starting XIs
Torino: Milinkovic-Savic; Pedersen, Maripan, Coco, Sosa; Ricci, Tameze; Lazaro, Vlasic, Karamoh; Adam
Genoa: Leali; Sabelli, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Frendrup, Badelj, Thorsby; Zanoli, Miretti; Pinamonti
Match Prediction
Given Torino’s strong home record and recent unbeaten run, coupled with Genoa’s improved away form under Vieira, this match is likely to be a closely contested affair. Both teams have shown defensive solidity in recent weeks, which could lead to a low-scoring encounter.
Prediction: Torino 1-1 Genoa
