Serie A Torino vs Lazio: Fans Expect More 

Torino vs Lazio

The Stadio Olimpico in Turin is the place to be on Saturday for one of the picks of the weekend, where Serie A Torino vs Lazio is the entertainment on offer.

While the Scudetto is likely to be fought out between the two Milan clubs and Juventus, these two sides, alongside the likes of Atalanta and Fiorentina, have designs on silverware and a Europa League place. Their fans have all too often suffered an inferiority complex in recent times, particularly Torino supporters who have seen their team live in the shadows of Juventus for far too long.

The rivalry in Rome is one of the fiercest in world football, and while Lazio have held the upper hand over the past few years, the arrival of Jose Mourinho as head coach of Roma has shifted the balance. I Giallorossi won the Europa Conference League last term as Nicolo Zanioli scored the only goal of the final against Feyenoord. And the odds on Lazio finishing in the top floor are longer than those of their city rivals.      

Both teams started the 2022/23 campaign with a 2-1 win, Torino away to Monza and Lazio at home to Bologna, and a follow-up victory for either would leave their fans feeling happy…and optimistic. 

Talking Points

Juric focussing on pitch matters

Torino head coach Ivan Juric has been busy in the transfer market recently, which is the kind of activity Il Toro fans wanted to see after video footage emerged of Juric fighting with Davide Vagnati, his director of sport. The coach considered resigning but the players rallied and him, making it clear that they were on his side. 

So Juric stayed and got to work on strengthening his squad. The marquee signing is that of Russian wide man Aleksei Miranchuk, who has arrived at Torino on loan, and he got off to a flying start with a goal in Torino’s opener away to Monza. The club has an option to buy the forward for 12m Euros and if he keeps that form up then they will surely exercise it. Striker Antonio Sanabria put in a man-of-the-match performance against Monza, with a goal and assist and the two players look capable of forming a productive partnership. 

Lazio still reliant on Immobile

Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri did well to lead his side to a top-five finish last season as he was operating with a relatively small squad, and the club relied heavily once again on Capocannoniere winner Ciro Immobile.

Lazio had nine outfield players playing over 24 top-flight games last season and Sarri is trying to strengthen by recruiting youth in the summer transfer window. 22-year-old midfielder Marcos Antonio has arrived from Shakhtar Donetsk while 20-year-old Azzurri winger Matteo Cancellieri has arrived on loan. Sarri has also brought some experience into defence with the signing of 27-year-old former AC Milan centre-back Alessio Romagnoli.   

In the victory over Bologna, midfield ace Sergej Milinkovic-Savic put through Immobile for the winning goal and he will continue to be as key a player in the middle of the park as Immobile will be up front. 

The 32-year-old striker and club captain is Lazio’s greatest goal scorer of all time and he will have his sights on yet another Capocannoniere, but he must stay fit if Lazio are to make a top-four challenge. 

History

The head to head Torino vs Lazio results tell a story of Roman success but Lazio haven’t had it all their own way, winning 18 of the 41 encounters since 1993, while Torino have managed eight victories and there have been 15 draws.

And Lazio have had a fair amount of success in Turin, beating Torino on ten of their last 20 visits, drawing five and losing five. The two teams couldn’t be split last season though as they played out two 1-1 draws.  

Betting Tip

The pre-match Torino vs Lazio betting odds say this game could go any one of three ways with the Romans favourites at a SBOTOP price of 2.28, while the hosts are priced at 2.86 and the draw is available at 3.25.

I think there will be goals in this game and we might see another match decided by the odd goal in three. 2-1 to Torino is at a price of 10.12 and 2-1 to Lazio is available at odds of 7.52 and if it turns out to be a three-goal match; Immobile and Miranchuck will be itching to score the winner.

 

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