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Torino logo
Serie A | Gameweek 2
Aug 25, 2024 at 5.30pm UK
Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
Atalanta logo

Torino
2 - 1
Atalanta

Ilic (31'), Adams (49')
Ilic (40'), Zapata (89'), Milinkovic-Savic (90+3')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Retegui (26')
Pasalic (29'), Hien (38'), Djimsiti (77'), Zaniolo (90+7')

Preview: Torino vs. Atalanta BC - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Serie A clash between Torino and Atalanta BC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Amid an unsettling time in the transfer market, Atalanta BC got off to a winning start in Serie A, and they will now aim to turn over Torino on Sunday.

Despite two stars of their Europa League triumph standing by the exit, the Bergamo club cruised past Lecce last week; meanwhile, Toro came within a whisker of beating AC Milan.


Match preview

Atalanta BC manager Gian Piero Gasperini pictured in August 2021© Reuters

A new dynamic duo arrived on the scene during Atalanta's first-day win down in Lecce - with Mateo Retegui and Marco Brescianini both celebrating their first start for the club with a brace - but two integral cogs in the Nerazzurri machine remained on the sidelines.

As Teun Koopmeiners awaits a move to Juventus, and Europa League final hero Ademola Lookman seeks a switch to Paris Saint-Germain, La Dea's plans for the season ahead have been thrown into disarray.

A frantic final week of the transfer window is to be expected, but wily head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will insist his troops focus solely on the task in front of them.

Having lost to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup and then swept aside Lecce, Atalanta will now aim to post a fifth straight Serie A win on the road, as they play another away fixture while their Gewiss Stadium is still being renovated.

Over the past 14 years, only once have the Bergamaschi won both of their first two Serie A matches, but recent precedent suggests that should be possible on Sunday.

Atalanta have lost just once in their last nine league meetings with Torino, winning six, including a club-record ​​7-0 thrashing of the Granata in January 2020.

Duvan Zapata (Torino Fc) shooting on goal during AC Milan vs Torino FC, August 17 2024© Imago

However, Toro were transformed by former boss Ivan Juric last season, when he steered the Turin club to a 3-0 win against his friend and mentor Gasperini.

New coach Paolo Vanoli has a lot to live up to, as Torino lost only one of their last 14 home games under Juric, posting 10 clean sheets in the process.

Throughout 2023-24, they recorded the most shut-outs on home turf throughout Europe's top five leagues (13 in 19 Serie A matches), and they started life under Vanoli with a 2-0 Coppa Italia win over Cosenza earlier this month.

Indeed, Toro were two up against Milan on their league debut for the new season - with new captain Duvan Zapata getting his name on the scoresheet at San Siro - but a late collapse allowed the Rossoneri to salvage a point.

The Granata finished just short of European qualification last term, and such a performance may increase confidence they can challenge again, but their tough start to the fixture list will continue on Sunday.

Torino Serie A form:
  • D

Torino form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D


Atalanta BC Serie A form:
  • W

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W


Team News

Atalanta BC's Gianluca Scamacca celebrates scoring against Marseille on May 2, 2024© Reuters

Not only are Teun Koopmeiners and Ademola Lookman unavailable, but two other regular starters - Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca - are continuing the long road back from serious knee injuries.

Atalanta's absence list does not end there, as defensive duo Rafael Toloi and Sead Kolasinac are also joined in the treatment room by summer signing Nicolo Zaniolo.

Record buy El Bilal Toure is bound for the Bundesliga, so Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere are essentially the last men standing up front.

Meanwhile, Torino's main marksman will be a familiar face to fans of La Dea: Duvan Zapata scored 69 times in 153 league appearances for Atalanta, making him the club's all-time joint-top scorer in Serie A. He has also scored seven goals in 11 matches against them.

Zapata's support should come from either Antonio Sanabria or Che Adams, as Croatia forward Nikola Vlasic has not yet returned from an injury that ruled him out of Euro 2024.

Dutch defender Perr Schuurs (ACL) will not be back until November, but the hosts could hand a first start to loan signing Borna Sosa, who arrived after fellow wing-back Raoul Bellanova joined Atalanta earlier this week.


Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Vojvoda, Coco, Masina; Lazaro, Ricci, Linetty, Ilic, Sosa; Sanabria, Zapata

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; De Roon, Hien, Djimsiti; Zappacosta, Ederson, Pasalic, Ruggeri; Brescianini; De Ketelaere, Retegui


SM words green background

We say: Torino 1-1 Atalanta BC

Though their concentration lapsed at the end of last week's draw with Milan, Torino's defence has proven tough to breach this year, and even a change of management should not change that.

Atalanta still have plenty of talent available, but suffering so many disruptions may mean they can only come away from Turin with a point.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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Game History

How you voted: Torino vs Atalanta

Torino
20.3%
Draw
35.6%
Atalanta BC
44.1%
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli23173338162254
2Inter Milan22156156193751
3Atalanta BCAtalanta23145449262347
4Juventus23913139201940
5Fiorentina22116537231439
6Lazio2212373830839
7Bologna2291033527837
8AC Milan229853324935
9Roma238783429531
10Udinese2385102836-829
11Torino236982427-327
12Genoa236892132-1126
13Hellas VeronaHellas Verona2372142648-2223
14Lecce2365121841-2323
15Como2357112738-1122
16Empoli2349102233-1121
17CagliariCagliari2256112336-1321
18Parma2348112942-1320
19VeneziaVenezia2337132238-1616
20Monza2327142034-1413


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