Both beaten 3-1 last week by Serie A title contenders, Torino and Empoli meet on Sunday afternoon at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.

While the Granata suffered a third-straight defeat at the hands of Napoli, their visitors almost salvaged a point at home to Milan before slipping up in stoppage time.

Match preview

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Suffering their fourth loss from five matches last weekend, Torino became the latest victims of a ruthless Napoli side that has swept all before them this season.

Already trailing by two goals inside the first 15 minutes, Ivan Juric's side proved no match for their hosts at Stadio Maradona, with Antonio Sanabria's strike just before half time ultimately serving as a minor consolation.

As a result, the Granata remain within the top half of the standings by only a single point, and their impressive start to the 2022-23 campaign is now slowly starting to unravel.

Following a run of fixtures that also included defeats to both Atalanta and Inter Milan, Torino now gain some respite by hosting one of Serie A's lesser lights, before tackling the Turin derby next week, then facing surprise package Udinese and reigning champions Milan.

Therefore, the pressure will be on Juric's men to produce three points on Sunday, against a club they have lost to only four times in 20 previous top-flight meetings. As Toro have scored only seven goals so far, though, that task may not be an entirely straightforward one.

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While they travel to Turin with their hosts experiencing a downturn in fortunes, defeat has become commonplace in the Empoli camp since the turn of the year - and one of several in the second half of last season was a 3-1 home reverse to Torino in May.

Coach Paolo Zanetti has endured a rocky start to his time in the dugout at the club he once represented as a player, and the Tuscan outfit lie 15th in the table following a late implosion against Milan.

When Nedim Bajrami curled in a free kick to equalise for the Azzurri, in the second minute of added time at the end of last week's match, a point seemed to be assured - adding to four draws already from seven Serie A games.

But the champions struck twice in the next four minutes to consign Empoli to another loss and kill any momentum gained from their first win of the season, earned just before the international break.

Despite their latest defeat at Stadio Carlo Castellani, Zanetti has actually led his team to an unbeaten streak of three matches away from home, but a tally of just seven goals this term indicates turning draws into wins will remain a challenge for the long term.

Team News

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Though he will be absent from the touchline due to suspension, Torino coach Ivan Juric will see his squad bolstered by the returns of Mergim Vojvoda and former Empoli loanee Samuele Ricci from injury.

The latter should be available to at least make a contribution from the bench, and striker Pietro Pellegri is expected to join him among the substitutes after recovering from an adductor problem.

Last week's goalscorer Antonio Sanabria starts up front; the very first of the Paraguayan's 22 Serie A goals to date was scored against Empoli in 2019, but he has not netted at home in the league since January.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be missing Lorenzo Tonelli, Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, Ardian Ismajli and Alberto Grassi, the latter of whom suffered a rib injury against Milan.

Razvan Marin should therefore step into the Empoli midfield, while Mattia Destro - who is one game away from equalling his longest Serie A goal drought (16) - will hope to supplant either Sam Lammers or Martin Satriano up front.

Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Djidji, Schuurs, Rodriguez; Lazaro, Lukic, Linetty, Aina; Miranchuk, Vlasic; Sanabria

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Ebuehi, De Winter, Luperto, Parisi; Haas, Marin, Bandinelli; Bajrami; Lammers, Satriano

We say: Torino 1-0 Empoli

Goals have been thin on the ground this term for either side, so a close-fought encounter is surely on the cards. Home advantage should swing the result in Il Toro's favour, though, as they pull further clear of their opponents in the standings.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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