Preview: Torino vs. Bologna - prediction, team news, lineups

Torino head into Sunday's Serie A fixture with Bologna looking for the victory which will move them to within touching distance of the mid-table positions.

The home side currently sit five points adrift of their ninth-placed opponents, who require a win to re-enter the race for the European spots.

Match preview

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Torino's season thus far has been somewhat of a slow burner, the biggest positive being their defensive record which is the fourth-best in the division.

However, Ivan Juric would have expected more from his squad, who sit in 13th position in the table after three games without success.

Torino led in both of their most recent fixtures with Empoli and Cagliari, and losing advantages in favourable fixtures has denied them a place in the top 10.

Tougher matches are to come over the Christmas and New Year period, upping the pressure ahead of a fixture against opponents who they will regard as rivals for seventh spot.

Remarkably, not one player has scored more than once during the last seven fixtures, a trio of players currently topping the charts with three strikes apiece.

Bologna have been one of the surprise packages of the season, particularly of late with four wins being recorded over a five-game period.

However, losing 3-2 at home to Fiorentina last weekend has dented their hopes in the race for European qualification, Bologna now trailing their most recent opponents, who are sixth, by three points.

Sinisa Mihajlovic's team have some difficult fixtures on the horizon, most notably Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli, and it only increases the pressure ahead of this contest.

Despite scoring just seven times in as many away games this season, Bologna are on a two-match winning streak on their travels, posting victories over Sampdoria and Spezia respectively.

Team News

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Daniele Baselli is an option in the central of Torino's midfield having replaced Tommaso Pobega at half time against Cagliari.

However, Dennis Praet could also return in a similar position, while Ricardo Rodriguez may feature on the left-hand side of the back three.

Wilfried Stephane Singo may be recalled on the right flank after serving a suspension.

Having impressed as a substitute last weekend, Aaron Hickey should return at left wing-back for Bologna.

This game may come too soon for Marko Arnuatovic, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury, while Nicolas Dominguez will sit out this game through five yellow cards.

Torino possible starting lineup:

Milinkovic-Savic; Zima, Bremer, Rodriguez; Singo, Lukic, Praet, Vojvoda; Brekalo, Pjaca; Sanabria

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Silvestri, Soumaoro, Medel, Theate, Hickey; Soriano, Svanberg, Vignato; Barrow, Sansone

We say: Torino 1-2 Bologna

Torino will want to take full advantage of playing on familiar territory on Sunday, particularly having moved clear of the relegation zone. However, we cannot back against the visitors, who we are backing to claim their third away victory in succession.