MX23RW : Friday, March 29 00:39:04| >> :120:24938:24938:
[monks data]
Torino logo
Serie A | Gameweek 15
Dec 2, 2021 at 5.30pm UK
Stadio Olimpico
Empoli logo

Torino
2 - 2
Empoli

Pobega (10'), Pjaca (15')
Aina (50'), Juric (54')
Singo (32')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Romagnoli (34'), La Mantia (72')
Bandinelli (45+1'), Marchizza (57'), Luperto (90+4')

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

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

Torino play host to Empoli on Thursday evening looking for the victory which will take the club closer to the top half of the Serie A standings.

While the home side can move ahead of their 11th-placed opponents, Empoli know that a win at the Olympic Grande Torino Stadium can move them ahead of some high-profile clubs in the division.


Match preview

Ivan Juric, now in charge of Torino, pictured in May 2021© Reuters

When you see Torino down in 13th position in the standings, it is easy to make the assumption that they have been well off the pace this season.

However, each of their seven defeats have been by one-goal margins, and a run of three wins in six matches suggests that they are ready to make headway up the table.

Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Roma came as a blow - it was the fourth 1-0 reverse away from home in succession - but Ivan Juric's team are still performing above their current standing.

The challenge now is to get Andrea Belotti back on track on a consistent basis, the long-time leading marksman having only scored twice in 479 minutes of league football this campaign.

If the Italy international can rediscover his form and the backline maintain the second-best defensive record in the division, there is scope for Il Toro to break into the top 10 sooner rather than later.

Empoli manager Aurelio Andreazzoli pictured in August 2021© Reuters

As far as Empoli are concerned, they will continue to be delighted with their efforts this season, Saturday's 2-1 triumph over Fiorentina keeping them well away from the relegation zone.

Aurelio Andreazzoli's sole focus at the beginning of the campaign would have been survival, but Empoli have already built the foundations for a stress-free second half to the year.

While any kind of victory over Fiorentina was always going to be beneficial for momentum, netting twice in the final three minutes of normal time was the perfect way to post just a second home win in eight attempts.

Andrea Pinamonti now has five goals from his 13 appearances in Serie A this term, four of which have been netted since October 23.

Torino Serie A form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L

Empoli Serie A form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W



Team News

Empoli's Patrick Cutrone celebrates with Nedim Bajrami after the match on August 28, 2021© Reuters

With Belotti and Koffi Djidji sustaining injuries during the Roma game, Juric will be forced into a couple of alterations.

David Zima and Antonio Sanabria are both pushing for a recall to the Torino XI, starting at centre-back and in attack respectively.

Ola Aina could also be brought back at left wing-back after remaining as an unused substitute at the weekend.

Filippo Bandinelli will expect to be recalled to the Empoli starting lineup after coming off the substitutes' bench to score versus Fiorentina.

Patrick Cutrone faces a battle to retain his place in attack, but Lorenzo Tonelli could keep his spot in the middle of the backline.

Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Zima, Bremer, Buongiorno; Singo, Lukic, Pobega, Aina; Praet, Brekalo; Sanabria

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Stojanovic, Tonelli, Luperto, Parisi; Bandinelli, Ricci, Henderson; Francesco; Cutrone, Pinamonti


SM words green background

We say: Torino 2-1 Empoli

With both teams in relatively good form for a club of their stature, this could be an interesting game. Nevertheless, we feel that Torino will be able to take advantage of playing on familiar territory, potentially edging this contest by the odd goal in three.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals 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.Under 3.5:data



ID:471526:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8626:

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Torino win with a probability of 48.31%. A win for Empoli had a probability of 27.44% and a draw had a probability of 24.3%.

The most likely scoreline for a Torino win was 1-0 with a probability of 9.58%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (9.48%) and 2-0 (7.95%). The likeliest Empoli win was 0-1 (6.88%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.41%). The actual scoreline of 2-2 was predicted with a 5.7% likelihood.


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
62.6%
Draw
19.8%
Empoli
17.6%
182
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Udinese head coach Luca Gotti pictured on August 22, 2021
Read Next:
Monday's Serie A predictions including Torino vs. Udinese
>
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
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter Milan29244171145776
2AC Milan29195555332262
3Juventus29178444232159
4Bologna29159542251754
5Roma29156855352051
6Atalanta BCAtalanta28145951321947
7Napoli29129844331145
8Fiorentina2812794132943
9Lazio29134123633343
10Monza2911993236-442
11Torino29101182826241
12Genoa29810113136-534
13Lecce29610132645-1928
14Udinese29415102844-1627
15Hellas VeronaHellas Verona2968152639-1326
16CagliariCagliari2968152950-2126
17Empoli2967162243-2125
18FrosinoneFrosinone2966173760-2324
19SassuoloSassuolo2965183356-2323
20Salernitana2928192359-3614


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!