Surprise joint Serie A leaders Torino welcome Lecce to Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Sunday, looking to stay level with the clubs atop the table after gameweek four.
The Granata notched consecutive wins before the international to make up for a league-opening draw with AC Milan, and they hope the hiatus does not slow them down going into this weekend's match against a side that claimed their first victory of the 2024-25 campaign in round three.
Match preview
Paolo Vanoli probably never imagined such a promising start to the new term after replacing Ivan Juric in the summer.
Torino have accrued seven points from their first available nine, including a draw with AC Milan (2-2) and a victory over Atalanta BC (2-1) before their 1-0 success over returning Venezia.
The points on board leave the Turin outfit level with fellow leaders Inter, Juventus and Udinese in the early-season standings, even if they are not anticipated to sustain their strong start.
Nevertheless, supporters will remember last season's four-point-from-nine start which left them 11th in the table and three points worse off than they are now.
That sequence of matches included a 4-1 thrashing against the Rossoneri at San Siro, where they secured a 2-2 draw this time, possibly suggesting the side's improvement 12 months on.
Although Torino are favourites for a third consecutive triumph in a row, Lecce hope to build on a 1-0 victory over Cagliari before the international break, keen to rise in the table after a losing start.
Luca Gotti's men were dealt a bad hand with a gameweek one clash with last season's Europa League winners Atalanta and defending Serie A champions Inter in round two, losing 4-0 and 2-0, respectively.
Their tough start was followed by a 1-0 triumph over Cagliari before the hiatus, with Nikola Krstovic notching Lupi's first goal of 24-25 just before the half-hour.
That success did not come easy, as Patrick Dorgu's sending-off before the interlude left Lecce hunkered down for the second half's entirety, facing 14 shots and conceding two chances considered clear-cut.
Regardless, the Salentini held on for maximum points, and they seek consecutive wins for the second time under Gotti after he masterminded a late revival at the backend of last season to end the club's two-year Serie A wait for back-to-back league wins with triumphs against Empoli (1-0) and Sassuolo (3-0) in March.
After going 14 road games without an away victory before Gotti, Lupi have secured two road victories under the 56-year-old and hope for a third against in-form opponents on Sunday.
Team News
Nikola Vlasic has a muscle complaint and may not be risked, but Vanoli is not expected to have the pair of Perr Schuurs and Gvidas Gineitis available due to knee injuries.
Summer arrival Che Adams has contributed to two goals (one goal, one assist) since moving abroad, and the Torino man hopes to add to his key involvements this weekend.
The away side are without Dorgu following his dismissal in the 1-0 success against Cagliari, while Mohamed Kaba (knee) is absent.
Despite scoring the game-winning strike before the break, Gotti will hope for improved penalty-box efficiency from Krstovic, who has failed to convert three big chances this term — only Atalanta's Mateo Retegui (four) and Torino's Duvan Zapata (four) have missed more.
Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Vojvoda, Coco, Masina; Lazaro, Ricci, Linetty, Ilic, Sosa; Adams, Zapata
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Pierret; Morente, Oudin, Banda; Krstovic
We say: Torino 1-1 Lecce
Despite Torino's admirable start to the new campaign, Lecce have been better travellers under Gotti, underscored by two road defeats — at San Siro against Milan (3-0) and Inter (2-0) — in six compared to three defeats in seven on their turf.
Thus, the former midfielder will back his side to avoid losing in Turin and avoid a fifth consecutive league loss against the Granata.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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