Prediction: Torino vs Como

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Looking to spring an upset on their travels, Como will travel to Turin on Friday night when they meet Torino.

Torino

Starting with the hosts, while Torino might have come flying out of the traps when opening up the new campaign, the Bulls have come crashing back down to earth in a worrying fashion. Really showing a string of glaring issues on either side of October’s international break, the pressure appears to be mounting on Paolo Vanoli’s shoulders. Marking their return from the fortnight interval with an action-packed 3-2 loss away at Cagliari, the Turin-based outfit are desperately seeking a crucial boost. However, crashing out of the Coppa Italia on September 24th as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home against Empoli, Friday’s hosts have now lost each of their previous four appearances on the bounce. In fact, gaining a reputation for their glaring defensive struggles, Vanoli’s camp have lost their previous three consecutive Serie A showdowns by a 3-2 scoreline.

Team News

Shown a straight red card against Inter Milan prior to October’s international break, Chile international Guillermo Maripan will once again miss out through suspension here. Likewise, sustaining what is a long-term knee injury earlier in the month, Colombian marksman Duvan Zapata will not feature for the remainder of this season.

All dealing with respective injury issues, the likes of Perr Schuurs, Alieu Njie and Emirhan Ilkhan will not play any part on Friday night. Making a real impact after arriving from Premier League outfit Southampton over the summer, Scotland international Che Adams will be looking to notch a fourth Serie A strike of the season.

Como

As for the visitors, although Como might have found themselves at the heart of a real struggle when making their iconic Serie A return back in August, Cesc Fabregas’ side have turned a real corner on either side of October’s international break. Signing off September with back-to-back 3-2 victories against Verona and defending Europa League champions Atalanta, the Azzurri now sit within touching distance of breaking into the top-half. Although some around Lombardy might have been frustrated last weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate at home against Parma, Friday’s guests have suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous five Serie A appearances. However, despite embarking on what has been a public fairytale, Como know the importance of finding some welcomed defensive steel. In fact, Fabregas’ side have failed to muster a single clean sheet from any of their first nine matchups across all competitions.

Team News

Not making a single appearance since the end of August, Como will once again be without Italian forward Alberto Cerri on Friday night. However, aside from the former Cagliari striker, Fabregas’ camp have reported a clean bill of health ahead of their trip to Turin this weekend.

Making an immediate impact since completing a sensational summer move from Barcelona, Sergi Roberto will start in the middle of the park. Notching four goals in his first eight Serie A appearances, former Wolves misfit Patrick Cutrone will lead Como’s charge in the final third.

Key Factors to Consider

• Torino have lost each of their previous three consecutive Serie B appearances by a 3-2 scoreline.
• The Bulls have conceded at least a pair of strikes in all of their last five appearances across all competitions.
• Como have suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous five Serie A showdowns.
• However, the Azzurri have failed to register a sole clean sheet from any of their first nine appearances across all competitions.
• Six of Como’s last seven Serie A appearances have finished with both teams getting on the scoresheet.

Conclusion

Two camps who have continued to show their own defensive issues this season, we could be set for a lively Serie A showdown on Friday night. With Como failing to muster a single clean sheet from any of their first nine appearances across all competitions, Torino find themselves at the heart of a public crisis. Remarkably losing all of their last three Serie A appearances by a 3-2 scoreline, the Bulls have also shipped at least a pair of goals in all of their previous five outings. Likewise, with Como seeing six of their last seven top-flight battles finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome this weekend.

Verdict: Both teams to score 

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet