MX23RW : Friday, November 8 01:36:49| >> :120:42434:42434:
[monks data]
Torino logo
Serie A | Gameweek 16
Dec 16, 2023 at 7.45pm UK
Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
Empoli logo

Torino
1 - 0
Empoli

Zapata (25')
Linetty (45+4'), Bellanova (71'), Buongiorno (80'), Vlasic (85')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Cacace (81'), Luperto (88')

Preview: Torino vs. Empoli - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Serie A clash between Torino and Empoli, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Seeking a top-half spot in the Serie A standings, mid-table Torino host lowly Empoli on Saturday evening.

While a win would take Toro into the top 10, their visitors need points to pull themselves out of the relegation zone.


Match preview

Torino coach Ivan Juric before the match on October 7, 2023© Reuters

Following a 3-0 defeat of Atalanta BC in their most recent home fixture, Torino travelled to Frosinone last weekend with back-to-back victories in their sights, as they sought to keep pace with Italy's top-six contenders.

Their hosts may have a fine record at Stadio Stirpe, but coming away with a 0-0 draw still left coach Ivan Juric frustrated - particularly as Toro's goalscoring woes returned just days after star striker Duvan Zapata had bagged a brace against his old club.

After failing to find the net against promoted opponents, the Granata have still scored just 13 times in Serie A this season, which is their worst such record since 2014, when they registered just 10 goals after 15 matches.

More positively, Torino have not conceded in their last two games and would keep three top-flight clean sheets in a row for the first time in four years if they shut out Empoli's misfiring strikeforce on Saturday.

Having lost just one of their last eight league meetings with the Tuscan side - and none since 2019 - Juric will expect nothing less than three points from his team this weekend, when victory would take them above 10th-placed Lazio for a few hours at least.

Empoli's Francesco Caputo celebrates scoring their third goal with Nicolo Cambiaghi on May 22, 2023© Reuters

Empoli will arrive in Turin searching for a first success since upsetting reigning champions Napoli early last month - a result which caused the ailing Scudetto-holders to switch coaches.

In three games since, the Azzurri have lost a seven-goal thriller to Sassuolo and subsequently drawn their two most recent outings 1-1: after holding Genoa at Marassi, they picked up a point at home to Lecce on Monday evening.

That left Aurelio Andreazzoli's men just inside the drop zone on goal difference, level on points with Udinese and only one behind resurgent Cagliari.

Much like this week's hosts, Empoli have failed to find their rhythm in the final third this season, managing a meagre 10 league goals so far - five at home and five away.

Only Ligue 1 side Clermont (nine) have scored fewer times throughout Europe's top five leagues, and the Tuscans also have the third-lowest shot conversion rate (6.1%); therefore, the pressure is on Francesco Caputo and co to start finding the net.

Torino Serie A form:


Torino form (all competitions):


Empoli Serie A form:


Team News

Torino's Perr Schuurs is stretchered off after sustaining an injury on October 21, 2023© Reuters

Dutch defender Perr Schuurs is out for the long term with an ACL injury and Nemanja Radonjic's participation is unlikely due to a disciplinary issue, but Torino should otherwise have a full squad to choose from this weekend.

Karol Linetty returns to contention in central midfield after serving a one-match ban against Frosinone, so Samuele Ricci's place is under some threat.

After his brace against former club Atalanta last time out in Turin, Duvan Zapata could score in successive Serie A home matches for the first time since November 2021; the Colombian striker should partner Antonio Sanabria up front.

Meanwhile, Empoli's Tommaso Baldanzi may make his return from an ankle injury, but full-back Bartosz Bereszynski remains a major doubt and Giuseppe Pezzella is out of action until early next year.

Veteran striker Francesco Caputo will have to overcome muscular fatigue if he is to lead the Azzurri's front line again, but Nicolo Cambiaghi is virtually certain to start despite attempting the most shots without scoring in Serie A this season (25).


Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Tameze, Buongiorno, Rodriguez; Bellanova, Linetty, Ilic, Vojvoda; Vlasic; Sanabria, Zapata

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Berisha; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Cacace; Fazzini, Grassi, Maleh; Cambiaghi, Caputo, Cancellieri


SM words green background

We say: Torino 1-0 Empoli

A goal-fest should not be expected in Saturday's late kickoff, as both teams are far from prolific and average less than one goal per game. Instead, a single strike may decide matters, with the hosts most likely to produce it.


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


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data


ID:531263:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect11740:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Torino vs Empoli

Torino
90.0%
Draw
10.0%
Empoli
0.0%
30
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
AC Milan's Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring their first goal with Tijjani Reijnders, Marco Pellegrino and teammates on October 29, 2023
Read Next:
Saturday's Serie A predictions including AC Milan vs. Frosinone
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Bengals
@
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli118121881025
2Inter Milan1173125131224
3Atalanta BCAtalanta1171329141522
4Fiorentina116412291322
5Lazio1171324141022
6Juventus115601971221
7AC Milan105231711617
8Udinese115151416-216
9Bologna103611211115
10Torino114251516-114
11Empoli1135389-114
12Roma113441214-213
13Hellas VeronaHellas Verona114071624-812
14Como122461323-1010
15Genoa12246922-1310
16CagliariCagliari11236919-109
17Parma111641417-39
18Monza111551014-48
19VeneziaVenezia112271019-98
20Lecce11227420-168


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!