Torino and Parma will kick off the New Year in a crucial Serie A encounter at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Sunday afternoon. With only two points separating the two sides in the league standings, both teams will be eager to secure a victory to enhance their positions and move further away from the relegation zone.
Torino enter this match following a dramatic draw against Udinese, where they managed to salvage a point with second-half goals from Che Adams and Samuele Ricci. This result marked the end of 2024 for the Granata, who now sit in 11th place with 20 points from 18 matches. Despite showing resilience in their last outing, Torino has struggled offensively, scoring only four goals in their last nine league matches after a more promising start under coach Paolo Vanoli, where they netted 15 times in their first nine games.
The team has not won at home since November and will be looking to break this winless streak against Parma. Historically, Torino has had success against the Gialloblu, winning their last home match against them 1-0 back in May 2021. A repeat of that scoreline would be welcomed by the home fans as they look to start 2025 on a positive note.
On the other hand, Parma come into this match with renewed confidence after securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over Monza in their last game. The Gialloblu halted a three-match losing streak with a last-minute goal from Lautaro Valenti, which lifted them to 14th place in the standings. This win was crucial for Parma as they aim to solidify their position in Serie A and avoid relegation after returning to the top flight.
Despite their recent success, Parma have struggled defensively throughout the season, managing only one clean sheet since their promotion. They have also faced difficulties on the road, collecting just seven points from a possible 24 away from home this term. After conceding eight goals in December against strong opponents like Inter Milan and Roma, they will be keen to tighten up defensively against Torino.
Team News
For Torino, coach Paolo Vanoli will be without long-term absentees Perr Schuurs and Duvan Zapata. The absence of Zapata has left a significant gap in attack that top scorer Che Adams and others have struggled to fill. Adams, who has five goals this season, will likely lead the line alongside former Parma striker Yann Karamoh. Samuele Ricci will play a crucial role in midfield after recently signing a contract extension until 2028.
Parma’s injury list is more extensive, with captain Enrico Del Prato joining several teammates on the sidelines. Coach Fabio Pecchia will also miss Adrian Bernabe, Mateusz Kowalski, Gabriel Charpentier, Alessandro Circati, and Yordan Osorio due to injuries. Hernani is also doubtful after suffering a minor muscular strain against Monza. Despite these setbacks, joint-top scorers Dennis Man and Ange-Yoan Bonny are expected to spearhead Parma’s attack.
Expected Starting XIs
Torino: Milinkovic-Savic; Vojvoda, Coco, Masina; Pedersen, Ricci, Gineitis, Sosa; Vlasic; Karamoh, Adams
Parma: Suzuki; Coulibaly, Valenti, Balogh, Valeri; Keita, Sohm; Man, Hernani, Mihaila; Bonny
Match Prediction
Given both teams’ recent performances and offensive struggles, this match could be tightly contested with limited goal-scoring opportunities. Torino has shown resilience at home but tends to find it challenging to score multiple goals in matches. Meanwhile, Parma’s defensive vulnerabilities could play into Torino’s hands.
Prediction: Torino 2-1 Parma
