Torino will try to fight back from a 2-0 first-leg deficit on Thursday when they host Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League last 16.

The Italians were reduced to 10 men early on at the Petrovsky Stadium last week before conceding either side of half time.

Giampiero Ventura's side are currently experiencing a poor run of form, losing their last three games in all competitions. However, they have failed to lose any of their previous 10 home matches in Europe.

Torino occupy ninth place in the Serie A table, with the likes of AC Milan and Udinese behind them in the standings.

They come up against a Zenit team that has won all three of their Europa League fixtures since dropping out of the Champions League earlier this season.

The Russians are on an unbeaten run of six matches in all competitions, with five wins coming in that time. They also sit five points clear at the top of their domestic table thanks to just two defeats all season.

Despite holding a healthy first-leg advantage, manager Andre Villas-Boas, who has been at the club since March 2014, will be wary of the threat that Torino may cause his players.

Marco Benassi is suspended for the hosts after being sent off in the first leg, while Salvatore Masiello could miss out due to a thigh problem.

Midfielder Javi Garcia is banned for Zenit, who will also be without the injured trio Andrey Arshavin, Viktor Fayzulin and Aleksandr Kerzhakov. Hulk and Vyacheslav Malafeev are both doubtful.

Torino:

Form in Europa League: LDWDWL
Form in all competitions: DWWLLL

Possible starting lineup: Padelli; Maksimovic, Gilk, Moretti; Darmian, Farnerud, Gazzi, El Kaddouri, Molinaro; Quagliarella, Martinez

Zenit:

Form in Europa League: WWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWD

Possible starting lineup: Lodygin; Smolnikov, Neto, Garay, Criscito; Tymoshchuk, Witsel; Hulk, Shatov, Danny; Rondon

Sports Mole says: 1-2

Written by
Jack Prescott

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