With renovations at Stadio Giovanni Zini now complete, Cremonese host Torino in the first home fixture of their Serie A comeback campaign.
Beaten in both of their away games so far, the hosts have endured a tough return to the top flight after 26 years away, while Il Toro have taken four points from a possible six to make a bright start to the new season.
Match preview
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Though they were held to a dull goalless draw in their second Serie A match of 2022-23, last week Torino managed to eke out a commendable result against one of the contenders for a top four finish next June.
Ivan Juric steered his side to a point against Lazio - the Granata's fourth straight draw against their counterparts from the capital - and maintained the Granata's unbeaten start in both league and cup.
After a difficult summer saw the departure of captain Andrea Belotti and defensive rock Bremer leave behind a bitter taste in Turin, Juric has kept the show on the road - previously posting wins against Palermo in the Coppa Italia and Monza on Serie A's opening day.
Following victory over the latter, Torino have won each of their last three games against newly-promoted sides, and each one away from home - boding well for their trip to Lombardy this weekend.
Indeed, Il Toro have taken maximum points from their last three road trips in the Italian top flight, and could now achieve four away wins on the spin for the first time since 1946.
It has been several decades since they last met in Serie A, but Cremonese have previously faced Torino in 12 top-tier matches; winning only one of their last nine.
Their chance to improve such a record comes in the club's first home match at this level since May 1996 - over 9,000 days ago - and they will be doubly keen to do so given a pointless start so far.
The Grigiorossi were denied a draw in their opener when goalkeeper Ionut Radu helped Fiorentina's 95th-minute winner into the net in a 3-2 defeat, during which Gonzalo Escalante was sent off in the first half.
It only got tougher for Massimiliano Alvini's men on Monday, as they travelled to the capital for a forbidding clash with Roma. However, they acquitted themselves well and were only beaten by Chris Smalling's decisive header midway through the second half, which left Radu entirely helpless.
Given the quality of their opponents thus far, it is perhaps no surprise that Cremonese have faced the most shots across the first two rounds of Serie A (55), but following four wins from five in pre-season - plus progress in the Coppa Italia - they can aim to get back on track in front of their fans this weekend.
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Team News
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Though Ivan Juric is expected to keep a settled side following Torino's solid start to the season, recent arrival Perr Schuurs - who signed from Ajax last week - will hope to feature in the back three.
Another defensive option, David Zima, remains sidelined by injury, while Aleksei Miranchuk suffered a thigh strain on his debut and will be out of action until next month.
In Juric's favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, Antonio Sanabria starts up front, with West Ham loanee Nikola Vlasic partnering Nemanja Radonjic in support of the lone frontman. So far this season, Radonjic has completed the second-most dribbles in Serie A (six), while only Victor Osimhen and Paulo Dybala have attempted more shots from inside the area.
As Torino's former captain Andrea Belotti is apparently on the verge of joining Roma, the capital club have given the green light to Felix Afena-Gyan's switch to Cremonese on a permanent deal. The Ghana international adds to Massimilano Alvini's options in attack, alongside summer signings Cyriel Dessers and David Okereke.
The hosts' head coach will also have Gonzalo Escalante back at his disposal, after the on-loan Lazio midfielder missed out on a return to Stadio Olimpico last week due to being dismissed on the opening day.
He will compete with fellow Argentinian Santiago Ascacibar for a spot in the starting XI, while Michele Castagnetti has returned from injury and makes the bench.
Cremonese possible starting lineup:
Radu; Vasquez, Chiriches, Lochoshvili; Ghiglione, Pickel, Ascacibar, Valeri; Zanimacchia; Okereke, Dessers
Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Djidji, Buongiorno, Rodriguez; Singo, Ricci, Linetty, Aina; Radonjic, Vlasic; Sanabria
We say: Cremonese 0-1 Torino
While Cremonese understandably lost their first two league games, in the club's seven previous Serie A seasons, they have never lost each of their first three. However, that unwanted club record could be created on Saturday evening, as Torino are a disciplined unit and can keep another clean sheet.
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Jonathan O'Shea
