Still in contention for a top-half finish in Serie A, 11th-placed Torino host mid-table counterparts Spezia on Saturday afternoon.

Separated by seven points in the standings - with Ivan Juric's men holding the upper hand - the teams meet with safety assured, despite indifferent results of late.

Match preview

After shutting out a Milan side desperate for points in pursuit of the Scudetto, Torino posted another draw against high-profile opposition last weekend.

Indeed, they could have taken maximum points home from Rome, were it not for their former striker Ciro Immobile scoring a stoppage-time equaliser for Lazio, which cancelled out Pietro Pellegri's opening goal.

As a result, the Granata have won only once in their last 11 Serie A matches - a 1-0 victory over rock-bottom Salernitana - while drawing six and losing four. Not only that, but they have also failed to score more than once in any game throughout that spell.

The last time Torino notched twice was as long ago as January, so Pellegri's overdue strike - the on-loan forward's first in Serie A for five years - will be welcomed by coach Ivan Juric, as he seeks further firepower in the final third.

That may prove the difference as they attempt to break in to the top half of the table before the campaign concludes. Hopes of hauling in 10th-placed Sassuolo are already slim, though; Torino trail the Emilian outfit by six points, but with a game in hand.

Seeking a rare Serie A double, Spezia will arrive in Turin on Saturday having come out on top in November's reverse fixture, when Jacopo Sala's goal separated these sides at Stadio Alberto Picco.

One of just five home wins the Aquilotti have recorded all season, that victory came amid a five-game period when they lost four times; being on the wrong end of an aggregate goals tally of 11-3.

Since then, though, Thiago Motta has stabilised his side, and the Ligurian club sit safely in 15th, with a second successive survival mission all but complete.

Accumulating seven points from four matches before their Good Friday defeat to Inter saw them climb 11 points clear of the relegation zone, so Spezia's target of securing top-flight football for just the third season in their history is within sight, despite a 3-1 reverse against the champions.

Motta's men have already lost 10 times on the road this term, while scoring at a rate of less than one goal per game, so will certainly seek to improve that record on Saturday.

Team News

Though star striker Andrea Belotti sustained a minor muscular injury against Lazio last week, Torino coach Ivan Juric expects to have the Italy international available to lead the home side's attack. After his goal last time out, Pietro Pellegri is on standby to deputise.

However, Armando Izzo, Tommaso Pobega and Sasa Lukic will all have to be assessed before the game, having picked up knocks at Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio loanee Mohamed Fares is out for the rest of the season, and veteran striker Simone Zaza could stay sidelined until next month, but midfield duo Dennis Praet and Rolando Mandragora are closing in on comebacks.

Meanwhile, Spezia's only injury concerns relate to midfield duo Mehdi Bourabia and Leo Sena, but Thiago Motta will also have two unnamed squad members absent with COVID-19.

The visitors otherwise have a fully fit squad to choose from, so are set to remain relatively unchanged, with out-of-favour forward M'Bala Nzola even less likely to feature after his bizarre cameo last weekend. The Angolan striker had to be substituted just minutes after coming on for Rey Manaj, as he had taken to the field wearing an earring which he was unable to remove when asked.

Manaj is instead favoured to start up front again, with top scorer Daniele Verde - recently consigned to the bench - pushing for a place in his supporting cast.

Torino possible starting lineup:
Berisha; Izzo, Bremer, Rodriguez; Aina, Lukic, Ricci, Vojvoda; Pobega, Brekalo; Belotti

Spezia possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Amian, Erlic, Nikolaou, Reca; Maggiore, Kiwior; Gyasi, Kovalenko, Bastoni; Manaj

We say: Torino 1-1 Spezia

Pitching together two of the lowest-scoring teams outside the bottom three, this fixture is surely bound for a close-fought draw.

Even though Spezia are the team to have faced the most shots in Serie A this season, timid Torino have landed only a league-low 97 on target themselves, so a goalfest is not on the cards.

Previews by email