After suffering their first defeat of the season in midweek, Torino aim to bounce back straight away, as they host promoted Lecce on Monday evening.

While Il Toro had won three of their first four league and cup matches to start the 2022-23 campaign, their visitors are yet to taste victory since sealing promotion back to Serie A.

Match preview

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Having smoothly progressed to the second round of the Coppa Italia, then picked up seven points from their opening three league games, Torino travelled to Bergamo on Thursday in expectation they could continue such fine form.

However, a Teun Koopmeiners hat-trick - with two of the Dutchman's goals coming from the penalty spot - consigned the Granata to a 3-1 defeat at the Gewiss Stadium.

Summer signing Nikola Vlasic, who had opened his account with a strike against Cremonese last weekend, was on target for Ivan Juric's side, but his late strike proved to be a mere consolation.

Though Torino have already held Lazio to a goalless draw this term, some would argue that the fixture list has been kind to them in the opening weeks, as their wins so far have come against newly-promoted pair Monza and Cremonese - beating both away from home by a 2-1 scoreline.

They now tackle the third side freshly arrived from Serie B, but will need to find a more clinical edge up front - particularly with former captain Andrea Belotti having departed for Roma; they have won just one of their last nine home games and have failed to score in each of their last three.

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While they have flitted between the top two tiers of Calcio in recent years, Lecce have generally enjoyed their encounters with Monday's opponents in Serie A, going unbeaten in seven of the clubs' last eight meetings.

Indeed, the Salentini won the last two top-flight matches against Torino before their most recent relegation, with a 4-0 success at Via del Mare following their 2-1 victory at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.

Lecce could now win three Serie A matches in a row against the Granata for the first time, but they would dearly love to take maximum points for a more pressing reason, as Marco Baroni's boys are yet to win this term.

Last season's Serie B champions crashed out of the Coppa Italia to Cittadella at the start of last month, and were beaten in their first two league fixtures, but goals from Gabriel Strefezza against Empoli and then a Lorenzo Colombo thunderbolt versus Napoli have since secured successive 1-1 draws.

Baroni will have seen encouraging signs, then, as his side not only managed to grind a point out against potential Scudetto contenders, but have also kept things relatively tight so far - conceding five goals is their lowest tally at this stage of a Serie A season for more than 20 years.

Team News

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As a committed advocate of Torino's 3-4-2-1 formation, Ivan Juric places great importance on the role of his wing-backs, but has some selection issues to resolve in that department.

While Wilfried Singo remains a doubt due to a tendon problem that caused him to sit out the trip to Bergamo, Juric must choose between Valentino Lazaro, Mergim Vojvoda, Ola Aina and newcomer Brian Bayeye to occupy either flank.

Fringe players Simone Zaza, Armando Izzo and Simone Verdi all left the club just before the transfer window's closure, but summer arrivals Nemanja Radonjic and Nikola Vlasic have already impressed and should start again on Monday; fellow new boy Aleksei Miranchuk remains sidelined by injury.

Meanwhile, Lecce may be ready to give star signing Samuel Umtiti his Serie A debut, but most likely from the bench, with Marin Pongracic expected to return from a knock to take his place at the heart of the visitors' back four.

Defensive duo Mert Cetin and Kastriot Dermaku are still struggling with injuries, though, and the so-far impressive Gabriel Strefezza is also a concern for Marco Baroni.

Up front, Milan loanee Lorenzo Colombo will hope to retain his spot after scoring a spectacular equaliser in Naples; captain Morten Hjulmand continues in midfield - the latter has won the most tackles in Serie A this season (11) and is also the midfielder to have made most recoveries (34).

Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Djidji, Schuurs, Rodriguez; Vojvoda, Lukic, Linetty, Aina; Radonjic, Vlasic; Sanabria

Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Pongracic, Gallo; Askildsen, Hjulmand, Gonzalez; Di Francesco, Ceesay, Banda

We say: Torino 1-0 Lecce

Under Juric, Torino rarely give away goals cheaply, so Lecce are likely to find it tough to break down their hosts. With some of their new signings settling nicely, Il Toro can claim three more points to prolong their positive start to the season.

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

Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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