Torino have opened their Serie A campaign with a 2-0 over Sassuolo, who failed to mark their first ever match in the Italian top flight with a positive result.
Coach Giampiero Ventura took Torino fans by surprise before kickoff, switching from a tried and tested 4-2-4 to use Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci in a 3-5-2 system.
The hosts threatened early on as Danilo D'Ambrosio showed pace and purpose down the left wing, but Cerci couldn't turn home his cross from distance.
After 40 minutes Sassuolo's resistance was broken by Matteo Brighi, who steered his cross into the top corner after strong play from Cerci and Immobile to create space in the final third.
Sassuolo responded positively to that setback by pressing high up the pitch, but a thunderbolt from Cerci effectively ended the match as a contest early in the second half.
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The Italian international cut inside after finding room on the right flank, sending an unstoppable drive home from range.
Leonardo Pavoletti and Immobile went close at either end in the closing stages, with Torino keeping a clean sheet to start the campaign with a positive all-round display.
Liam Power
