The Serie A season enters its final stretch this Thursday evening as Torino welcome Sassuolo to the Olimpico Grande Torino for the opening fixture of the 35th matchday. Scheduled for an 8:45 PM local kick-off, this encounter pits two sides who have already achieved their primary objective for the campaign: securing their top-flight status for another year.
For Torino, managed by Roberto D'Aversa, the recent form presents a mixed picture. The Granata have shown resilience, evidenced by a gritty 1-0 victory at Pisa and a dramatic 2-1 home win against Verona, alongside hard-fought draws at Cremona and a remarkable 2-2 comeback from two goals down against Inter Milan. However, their momentum was checked last time out with a 2-0 defeat away to Udinese. This inconsistency leaves them looking to finish the season on a high note, with a trip to Cagliari and the Turin derby against Juventus still to come.
Sassuolo, under the guidance of Fabio Grosso, arrive in Turin riding a wave of positive results. The Neroverdi have been formidable at their Mapei Stadium, securing back-to-back home victories against Como (2-1) and, most impressively, a 2-0 triumph over AC Milan. A goalless draw away to Fiorentina further underscores their solid recent form. With fixtures against Lecce at home and the Emilian derby at Parma to conclude the season, Sassuolo will be eager to maintain this strong finish.
The tactical setups for both managers are clear. D'Aversa is expected to deploy his Torino side in a 3-4-1-2 formation. The back three is likely to consist of Paleari, Marianucci, Coco, and Ebosse. The wing-back roles will be filled by Lazaro and Obrador, with Ilkhan and Gineitis anchoring the midfield. Nikola Vlasic is set to operate in the attacking midfield role, supporting the strike partnership of Giovanni Simeone and Duván Zapata.
On the opposing bench, Fabio Grosso's Sassuolo are poised to line up in a 4-3-3 system. The defense will feature Turati in goal, shielded by Coulibaly, Walukiewicz, Muharemovic, and Doig. The midfield trio is expected to be Koné, the experienced Nemanja Matic, and Thorstvedt. The attacking trident will be spearheaded by the ever-dangerous Domenico Berardi, flanked by Nzola and Laurienté.
Both managers have a wealth of options on their benches should they need to alter the course of the game. D'Aversa can call upon the likes of Israel, Maripan, Nkounkou, Biraghi, Ilic, Casadei, and Adams. Grosso's substitutes include Muric, Felipe, Romagna, Volpato, and Pinamonti, offering significant depth and tactical flexibility.
The match officials have been confirmed. The referee for the evening will be Galipò from Florence, assisted by Bindoni and Tegoni. The fourth official is Maresca. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties will be handled by Meraviglia, with Prontera serving as the assistant VAR.
Fans looking to follow the action live have several broadcast options. The match will be televised in Italy on DAZN, as well as on Sky Sport Calcio (channel 202) and Sky Sport (channel 251). For streaming, the game will be available on the Now platform and via Sky Go.
While both teams are playing out the season with their Serie A status assured, this fixture offers a chance for players to impress, for managers to test ideas, and for fans to enjoy an open contest. Torino will seek to rebound from their loss in Udine and build confidence ahead of the derby, while Sassuolo aim to continue their excellent recent run and climb the table.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.com - Calcio.
