The Serie A season is entering its final stretch, and the opening fixture of matchday 36 presents a fascinating encounter between two sides who have already achieved their primary objective: survival. Torino will host Sassuolo at the Olimpico Grande Torino on Friday evening, with kickoff scheduled for 20:45 local time. While the pressure of relegation is absent, both teams have compelling reasons to perform well as they look to finish the campaign on a positive note.
For Torino, managed by Roberto D'Aversa, the recent form has been a mixed bag. The Granata secured impressive back-to-back victories against Pisa and Verona, followed by hard-fought draws against Cremonese and a dramatic comeback from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Inter Milan. However, their momentum was halted in the last round with a 2-0 defeat away to Udinese. This inconsistency has been a theme for Torino this season, and D'Aversa will be eager to see a strong response from his players in front of their home supporters.
The remaining schedule for Torino is daunting. After facing Sassuolo, they travel to Sardinia to take on Cagliari before concluding the season with the highly anticipated Turin derby against Juventus. These final fixtures offer a chance for the squad to build confidence and end the year with a sense of accomplishment, which could be crucial for morale heading into the next campaign.
On the other side, Sassuolo are riding a wave of excellent form under the guidance of Fabio Grosso. The Neroverdi have been particularly formidable at their Mapei Stadium home, securing victories over Como and, most notably, a convincing 2-0 win against AC Milan. Sandwiched between those home triumphs was a solid 0-0 draw away at Fiorentina. This run of results has showcased a team playing with confidence and tactical discipline, a stark contrast to the struggles they endured earlier in the season.
Grosso's side will look to carry this momentum into the final two games of the season. After the trip to Turin, Sassuolo will host Lecce before traveling to face Parma in the Emilian derby on the final day. The club will be hoping to finish as high as possible in the table, a testament to the remarkable turnaround engineered by their manager since his appointment.
The official lineups for the match have been confirmed. Torino will set up in a 3-4-1-2 formation: Paleari; Marianucci, Coco, Ebosse; Lazaro, Prati, Gineitis, Obrador; Vlasic; Njie, Simeone. This system relies on wing-backs to provide width and the creative spark of Nikola Vlasic behind the front two of Njie and Simeone.
Sassuolo will counter with a 4-3-3 setup: Muric; Walukiewicz, Lipani, Muharemovic, Doig; Thorstvedt, Matic, Coulibaly; Volpato, Pinamonti, Laurienté. The presence of experienced midfielder Nemanja Matic in the engine room provides stability, while the attacking trio of Volpato, Pinamonti, and Laurienté offers pace and goal threat. The tactical battle between D'Aversa's three-at-the-back and Grosso's traditional four will be a key subplot of the evening.
The match will be officiated by referee Galipò from Florence, assisted by Bindoni and Tegoni. Maresca will serve as the fourth official, with Meraviglia overseeing VAR operations and Prontera assisting from the video room. Their performance will be under scrutiny as the season nears its end.
For fans looking to watch the action, the match will be broadcast live on DAZN, as well as on Sky Sport Calcio (channel 202) and Sky Sport (channel 251). Streaming options are available through Now and the Sky Go platform, ensuring supporters can follow the game from anywhere.
This fixture, while lacking the high stakes of a title decider or relegation six-pointer, is far from meaningless. It represents an opportunity for both sets of players to demonstrate professionalism, for managers to test tactical ideas, and for the clubs to build momentum for a strong finish. The Olimpico Grande Torino should witness an open and entertaining contest between two teams eager to end their season on a high.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.com - Calcio.
