Torino will be the hosts of Roma on Saturday at 16:30 GMT as Roma seek to cement their top-four credentials, and Torino look to break into the top half of the table.
Key Highlights
Torino’s Fight to Break into the Top Half of the Serie A Table
Torino are currently eleventh on the Serie A table with 37 points. They are 18 points clear of the relegation zone. However, they are also 13 points from the top-four position. This leaves this Turin side in a position where they are not threatened by relegation and not fighting for European places.
The danger with this position is the potential risk of complacency or players switching off. Ivan Jurić will have to focus and ensure that his men are motivated to play in the run-in, starting with the visit of Roma on Saturday.
Roma’s Top-Four Chase
Mourinho’s Roma are fifth on the table, level on points with fourth-placed Inter. A win away to Torino will be crucial for Roma’s chances of breaking into the top four and enhancing their ability to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Mourinho will be going for the win as matches come thick and fast and as the stakes of a top-four finish are raised as the business end of the Serie A season approaches.
Injury Report
Torino
Davina Zima is sidelined for Torino with a meniscal injury. The center-back will be unavailable for the home clash against Roma on Saturday as he nurses the injury he suffered on January 25, 2023. Having missed 11 matches for Torino, Zima is expected to be back in training by April 10, 2023.
Torino will also be without central midfielder Ronaldo Vieira. The 24-year-old midfield enforcer is nursing a bruised knee since February 23, 2023. The midfielder has missed 4 matches for Torino so far, and the club has not set a return date yet.
Ivan Ilic has also been missing from the squad with an ankle injury since March 30, 2023. The 22-year-old central midfielder is expected to return to the training ground by April 7, 2023. However, this match will come too soon for him to be included in the matchday squad.
Roma
Jose Mourinho’s side will be without defensive midfielder Ebrima Darboe for the trip to Turin to play Torino. The 21-year-old is nursing a cruciate ligament injury that forced him to undergo surgery. He has been out of action since July 21, 2022, and has missed 40 matches for the Stadio Olimpico side.
Roma will also be without the services of right-back Rick Karsdorp. The fullback has missed action in one match since the injury on March 21, 2023.
Possible Lineups
Torino
V. Milinkovic-Savic; A. Gravillon, P. Schuurs, R. Rodriguez; W. Singo, K. Linetty, S. Ricci, M. Vojvoda; N. Vlasic, N. Radnjic, A. Sanabria
Roma
R. Patricio; N. Zalewski, C. Smalling, Diego Llorente, L. Spinazzola; G. Wijnaldum, N. Matic; P. Dybala, L. Pellegrini, II Faraone; T. Abraham
Prediction
On current form, Torino will look to play as solidly and compactly as possible to frustrate Roma and make life difficult in Turin. They will play on the break and try to force Mourinho’s side into errors or transitions that can encourage counterattacks.
Roma, having bounced back to winning ways with a 3-0 home win against Sampdoria, will look to extend their good form when they face Torino on Saturday. Roma will look to strike a fine balance between their attacking and defending. Off the ball, they will close down and defend in numbers. On possession, they will look to be expansive and fast in their attacks to create chances.
Given the form of these two sides going into this match, a draw is the likely result, with neither side satisfied with shared points.
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