Torino and AS Roma meet at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Sunday.
AS Roma will look to bounce back from their recent defeat against the same opponent just a few days ago in the Coppa Italia and continue their chase towards the top of the league table.
Torino vs AS Roma – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 18th January.
- Kick-off: 5pm BST.
- Venue: Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
Torino team news
Marco Baroni’s Torino side will be without injured midfielder Ivan Ilic as they prepare to face Roma for the second time in five days. Adam Masina is also unavailable, continuing to represent Morocco in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Of greater concern was the status of centre-back Ardian Ismajli, who departed Tuesday’s Coppa Italia match early with an ankle injury. While initially, there was a fear of more than a contusion, he is now declared fit to face Roma. Adrien Tameze stands ready to deputise if pre-catuion is taken.
Giovanni Simeone, who netted the winning goal in the two sides’ previous Serie A encounter, picked up a knock during Tuesday’s cup tie and remains a doubt, with Duvan Zapata on standby to start up front.
AS Roma team news
Roma’s attacking setup faces significant challenges heading into this fixture. Striker Artem Dovbyk will undergo surgery in Finland on Monday morning to address a thigh injury, Sky Sport Italia reported, sidelining him for a minimum of two months, with an expected return date in April.
Evan Ferguson also remains a major doubt after suffering a severe bruise to his lower back in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sassuolo, though early indications suggest he has avoided a longer-term setback.
In positive news, centre-back Gianluca Mancini returns from suspension following a one-match ban, bolstering Roma’s defensive options. The Giallorossi are without Lorenzo Pellegrini and Tommaso Baldanzi due to injury, while Neil El Aynaoui is at the Africa Cup of Nations final with Morocco.
Roma has bolstered their attacking ranks with the arrival of Dutch forward Donyell Malen from Aston Villa. The 26-year-old joined on an initial loan deal with a mandatory purchase obligation set at approximately €27 million, and could make his debut against Torino.
Form
Torino
Marco Baroni’s side delivered a sensational performance in midweek, overcoming Roma 3-2 in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 at the Olimpico.
Striker Ché Adams produced a dominant display, netting a brace, with midfielder Emirhan Ilkhan firing home a dramatic 90th-minute winner.
However, Torino’s league form remains inconsistent, having suffered a 2-0 defeat to Atalanta on January 10 and a 2-1 loss to Udinese earlier in the month.
The Granata currently occupy 12th place with 23 points from 20 Serie A matches, having won only 6 games, drawn 5, and lost 9.
AS Roma
The Giallorossi claimed a 2-0 home victory over Sassuolo on January 10, with right-winger Matías Soulé scoring and assisting in the second-half onslaught.
Manu Kone and Soulé struck within three minutes of each other to secure three crucial points.
Despite the impressive defensive record, Roma have drawn none of their Serie A matches this season—an unusual trait in the league. The capital club sit 5th with 39 points from 20 games, having won 13, drawn 0, and lost 7.
Predicted lineups
Torino: Paleari; Ismajli, Maripan, Coco; Pedersen, Casadei, Ilkhan, Vlasic, Lazaro; Adams, Zapata
AS Roma: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik, Cristante, Kone, Wesley; Soule, Dybala; Malen
How to watch Torino vs AS Roma?
Supporters in the United Kingdom can access the match through DAZN, which holds exclusive rights to all Serie A matches.
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