TORINO VS CROTONE PREVIEW & PREDICTION
Crotone had a lot of points against direct competitors in the last few weeks, which created a difficult situation. A new loss against Torino could easily result in a position below the dreaded line.
Torino :
Torino finished ninth in the Serie A last season and that could just be the case again in 2018. The team of coach Walter Mazzarri performs well again this year, but is probably just short of making the step to the top seven. The current number nine of the Serie A can still make a throw to the eighth place since the difference with Atalanta Bergamo is only two points. The fact is that Torino usually performs as a typical middle-engine and that it is just not stable enough to keep up with teams like Sampdoria and Atalanta Bergamo. What is striking is that Torino is difficult to beat, but it also has trouble with winning matches. Twelve times the points were shared with the opponent, by far the highest number of the Serie A.
Of the last fifteen games, Torino lost only three, but it is worrying that the last two matches resulted in a loss. The 0-1 loss of Juventus might have been factored in, but the result of last week was certainly not. The away match against Hellas Verona offered Torino a good chance to add a victory to the total, but it did not end that far. Plague spirit Mattia Valotu scored twice for his own audience and with his goals he put the 2-1 final score on the board.
On Sunday it will have to happen against Crotone. This game against another low flyer simply has to be won if a place in the top eight is really the goal. Before the match against Crotone, Mazzarri will have to change his defense in one place. Torino will be kicked off without a chunk of experience as the 36-year-old Nicolas Burdisso is suspended. The Argentinian collected its fifth yellow card of the season last week.
Crotone :
The story of Crotone last season read like a fairy tale. The PhD student seemed to be on his way to relegation to the Serie B, but an unprecedented and surprising advance saved the club on the last day of play. This season, Crotone is a lot better after 26 games played, but the pressure has certainly not disappeared. At the moment the team is holding Benevento, SPAL and Hellas Verona, which at the end of the stage would be enough to prevent relegation, but that is what has been said. The last nine games were only a victory and therefore a crisis is near. It is also noticeable that Crotone had points against direct competitors and that was hard. For example, the men of trainer Walter Zenga lost 2-3 of SPAL and lost 3-2 on a visit to Benevento.
These two matches are the last duels that Crotone played and they undoubtedly caused a sour aftertaste. The loss of last week actually came as a surprise. SPAL was the underdog since Crotone had the home advantage, but that did not seem to bother the visitors. The relegation candidate scored three times within sixty minutes and that ultimately ensured that the three points were taken. Ante Budimir made two goals for Crotone, but they turned out not to be enough to prevent the loss.
In the last two games Crotone seemed to be the favorite for the final victory, but that is certainly not the case in Turin. In addition, Zenga will have to take some injuries into account. For example, Adrian Stoian, who came into action in 22 games this season, is on the side with a hurt and can also be put in the line by the names of Marco Tumminello and Stefan Simic.
PREDICTION: Torino to win @ 1.42
