Serie A: Table-Toping Torino Have Bit Between Their Teeth

Torino vs Lazio

So, hands up (and be honest), who’d have thought Torino would be top of Serie A going into the final weekend of September? No, I didn’t think so!

Three wins and two draws is more than a decent return for a side which finished ninth last term, and no one can say they don’t deserve it.

For a victory against the Europa League holders Atalanta is no easy task, likewise a draw against Milan in the San Siro, a game they would have won but for a late Rossoneri comeback.

Their latest victory last Friday night was hard fought, playing more than 70 minutes against 10 men after Pawel Dawidowicz’s first-half dismissal, but they saw it through at Verona as Che Adams grabbed the winner.

He was joined on the scoresheet by Antonio Sanabria and Duvan Zapata, the latter a player with a real pedigree in front of goal.

So why they should fear Lazio who are the visitors to the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Sunday morning?

 

Talking Points

Torino’s fine start to the new season is even more impressive when you remember this is a club which suffered a double setback this summer.

Losing Alessandro Buongiorno was bad, but it was followed by the late departure of Raoul Bellanova to Atalanta.

Centre-back Buongiorno’s breakout season earned him a place in Italy’s Euro 2024 squad and led to his sale to Napoli, while Bellanova, who served up seven assists from right wing-back last term, completed his transfer just days before the big kick-off.

However, new boss Paolo Vanoli has shrugged that off to show his new employer he can spot real value, demonstrated by the signature of Scotland striker Adams, who has already hit the ground running along with Saul Coco.

He also has his new charges playing with character and a spirit, even though they would have been bitterly disappointed by their late defeat to Empoli in the Coppa Italia in midweek.

Lazio have had a mixed few days themselves.

Last weekend in Florence, Mario Gila put them in front with a header from a Nuno Tavares corner, but debutant Albert Gudmundsson came on at halftime and transformed the game at the Stadio Franchi.

He converted two penalties to earn Fiorentina their first win of the season, much to the frustration of Lazio coach Marco Baroni.

Lazio bounced back, though, against Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League on Wednesday night.

Played on neutral turf in Hamburg, Boulaye Dia was the star of the show with a brace.

He moved to the club over the summer, on loan from Salernitana with an obligation to buy for €11.3 million, and already has four goals in five games.

The Senegal international can play as a support striker for Taty Castellanos or an out-and-out centre-forward.

Now they are hoping he can fire them to some Serie A 2024 highlights which so far have been few and far between with two wins from five which sees them sit eighth in the table.

Standing in their way, the surprise but completely deserved early pacesetters.

 

History

This is a game Lazio have dominated over many years.

They have won 15 of their last 33 encounters with a further 12 draws and a mere six Torino triumphs.

Home and away 2-0 victories were the order of the day for Lazio last term.

In fact, you have to go back to May 2019 to the last time Torino last defeated them at home, and that was as the Aquile were still basking in the glory of their Coppa Italia success at the end of the campaign.

On that occasion, a 3-1 victory was courtesy of second half goals from Iago Falque, Sasa Lukic and Lorenzo De Silvestri.

Last season, the goal-getters for Lazio in this fixture were Matteo Guendouzi and Danilo Cataldi, both early in the second half.

 

Betting Tip

Well, another 2-0 Lazio success will earn you a tidy sum @ 12.50 with Correct Score, with goal options including Total Goal 0-1 @ 2.52, 2-3 @ 1.98, 4-6 @ 4.22, and Over 2.50 @ 2.36.

Looking at the SBOTOP Serie A betting odds though, why would you back against the home team maintaining their unbeaten start to the season.

They can be tipped 1X2 @ 2.60, exactly the same odds as Lazio, and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.31, which is virtually the same as the Aquile who are on offer -0.25 @ 2.33.

I think this has honours even written all over it.

   

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