As the Serie A season progresses, Torino and Monza find themselves in a challenging situation as they prepare to face each other on Sunday in Turin. Both teams are desperate to turn their fortunes around after a series of disappointing performances, making this clash critical for their aspirations in the league.
Torino enter this match on the back of a disheartening streak, having lost three consecutive games, including a 2-0 defeat to their city rivals Juventus in the latest Derby della Mole. This loss extended their winless run against Juventus to 19 matches, a statistic that weighs heavily on the team’s morale. Under the guidance of head coach Paolo Vanoli, Torino began the season with optimism but has since seen their form plummet, losing six of their last seven league outings and failing to score in their last three matches. Their struggles have been compounded by injuries, notably to key players like captain Duvan Zapata, which has left them lacking in attacking options.
Despite these setbacks, Torino remain just outside the top half of the Serie A table, sitting four points behind AC Milan. They will be looking to reclaim some confidence against Monza, a team they have historically performed well against, having won their last encounter 1-0 in March.
Monza, on the other hand, are also reeling from poor form, having lost their last three matches without finding the back of the net. Their recent defeats include narrow losses to Lazio and Atalanta BC. Under coach Alessandro Nesta, Monza have struggled to replicate their previous season’s performance and currently sits within the relegation zone. With just nine points from twelve matches, they are nine points shy of where they were at this stage last season. The upcoming match against Torino represents an opportunity for Monza to break this negative trend before facing fellow strugglers Como.
Both teams are struggling offensively; Torino has been particularly ineffective at home lately, losing two of their last three Serie A matches at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino. Meanwhile, Monza’s away form has been slightly better than at home this season but still leaves much to be desired.
The match is poised to be tightly contested given both teams’ current predicaments. With both sides desperately seeking points and struggling with confidence, it could lead to a cautious approach from both managers.
Team News
For Torino, there is some positive news as midfield dynamo Samuele Ricci is set to return from injury. Additionally, forward Che Adams is expected to be fit for selection after a promising start to his tenure in Turin. However, the absence of Duvan Zapata continues to loom large over the squad’s attacking capabilities. Antonio Sanabria will need to step up; he has previously enjoyed success against Monza but has not found his best form recently.
Monza will rely on Dany Mota as their primary attacking threat. Mota is notable for scoring the club’s first-ever Serie A goal against Torino back in August 2022 and will be looking to rekindle that scoring touch. Unfortunately for Monza, they will be without several key players including midfielder Stefano Sensi and goalkeeper Alessio Cragno due to injuries.
Expected Starting XIs
Torino: Milinkovic-Savic; Walukiewicz, Coco, Masina; Pedersen, Vlasic, Ricci, Linetty, Lazaro; Adams, Sanabria
Monza: Turati; Izzo, Mari, Carboni; Pereira, Pessina, Bondo, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Mota; Djuric
Match Prediction
Given the circumstances surrounding both clubs and their recent performances, a draw seems like a plausible outcome for this matchup. A scoreline of 1-1 could reflect the shared frustrations and aspirations of both teams as they seek to halt their respective slumps in form.
Prediction: Torino 1-1 Monza
