Torino play host to Cagliari this Sunday afternoon, at Stadio Olimpico, with either side yet to ignite their Serie A season.
Despite ambitions of a top-half finish, both teams have struggled through the opening throes of the current campaign, with the visitors languishing in 17th and La Granata 18th.
Match preview
© Reuters
Torino sit pointless, in the relegation zone, following back-to-back defeats against Fiorentina and Atalanta.
Before the international break, the Grifoni's scheduled visit to Genoa was cancelled due to several COVID-19 infections in their camp.
Such concerns have passed for now, and a close-to-full-strength squad will take on Eusebio Di Francesco's Sardinian side.
That is just as well, because their 4-2 defeat to Atalanta last time out came on September 26 - almost a full month ago - and any sense of momentum is sorely lacking.
Main goal-getter and supposed Tottenham Hotspur target Andrea Belotti has two goals to his name so far but flattered to deceive on international duty, particularly as the Azzurri drew a blank in Poland.
Belotti's partnership with well-travelled linkman Simone Zaza will certainly worry the visitors' sieve-like defence.
© Reuters
New Cagliari coach Di Francesco, formerly of Roma and Sassuolo, hopes to heal the scars of his brief and horribly unsuccessful reign at Sampdoria last year. Already, his back is up against the wall.
Headline summer signing Diego Godin will helm the defence again, as the experienced Uruguayan ekes out yet another year in top flight European football - albeit at a lower level than before. His presence, however, has failed to shore up the Cagliari back line.
Gli Isolani picked up a point on the opening day against Sassuolo, but were then beaten by both Lazio and Atalanta – the second of those was a 5-2 shellacking at the hands of Gian Piero Gasperini's thrillingly ruthless side.
Recent history is on their side, though. Cagliari picked up a point at the Olimpico last season, before defeating Il Toro 4-2 in Sardinia once the 2019-20 season recommenced in late spring.
Forthcoming matches with Crotone, Bologna and Sampdoria will also offer justified hope of picking up several much needed points, so a draw would perhaps be a satisfactory return from their trip north.
Torino Serie A form: LL
Cagliari Serie A form: DLL
Team News
© Reuters
Torino will be without midfielder Daniele Baselli - still on the sidelines with an ACL tear and not expected to return until the turn of the year - and full-back Wilfried Singo who continues to recover from a shoulder injury and will not be ready to feature.
Marco Giampaolo's 4-3-1-2 should see Soualiho Meite, Venezuela captain Tomas Rincon and Poland's Karol Linetty provide the foundation for Simone Verdi to support the high-energy front pair.
Cagliari coach Di Francesco welcomes ex-PSV man Gaston Pereiro back into the squad following a broken foot and he may earn a spot on the bench, further increasing their influential South American contingent. Defenders Ragnar Klavan and Simone Pinna are out with ankle and knee injuries respectively.
Either Riccardo Sottil or Adam Ounas is expected to join Uruguayan powerhouse Nahitan Nandez and Giovanni Simeone just behind attacking focal point Joao Pedro.
Torino possible starting lineup:
Sirigu; Vojvoda, Bremer, Nkoulou, Rodriguez; Meite, Rincon, Linetty; Verdi; Belotti, Zaza
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Cragno; Zappa, Walukiewicz, Godin, Lykogiannis; Marin, Rog; Nandez, Ounas, Simeone; Joao Pedro
We say: Torino 2-1 Cagliari
The combination of Torino's attacking experience and Cagliari's shaky defence makes the home side favourites in this battle of the early strugglers.
Recent historical precedent, too, is in their favour, as before last season the Turin side had not lost to their Sardinian counterparts in their previous 10 meetings.
