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Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 14/5
Bookmaker: ZetBet
Under pressure but still in command, Ivan Juric will lead Roma as they face his former club Torino on Thursday night at Stadio Olimpico, in round 10 of the Serie A roller coaster.
Both teams come into this clash on the back of disappointing results, and both will be eager to bounce back quickly.
AS Roma
Roma’s inconsistent start to the season hit a low point last weekend with a 5-1 thrashing by Fiorentina, a result that has left them teetering in the bottom half of the Serie A table and intensifying questions over Juric’s future. Following close defeats to Inter Milan and earlier setbacks against Elfsborg and Monza, Juric’s early tenure — which began after club icon Daniele De Rossi’s exit — has seen only flashes of promise.
One bright spot has been the recent form of top scorer Artem Dovbyk, though Roma’s attack as a whole has struggled to find cohesion, managing just an average of one goal per game. Despite these challenges, history leans in Roma’s favor as they prepare to host Torino; the Giallorossi have triumphed in 12 of their last 14 home encounters with the Granata, scoring freely in these fixtures. An unbroken six-match unbeaten run against Torino adds pressure to secure a positive result, potentially easing the tension surrounding Juric and reinvigorating an anxious fanbase.
Team News
Roma will be without Alexis Saelemaekers due to injury, and Mario Hermoso is suspended, adding further limitations to Ivan Juric’s options for Thursday. However, Stephan El Shaarawy could be fit in time following his calf injury, potentially providing a boost on the bench.
Given the heavy 5-1 loss to Fiorentina and with another game on Sunday, Juric may opt to rotate his starting lineup slightly. Artem Dovbyk, who has recently found some form, is expected to remain the focal point in attack.
In better news for Roma, Matias Soule returns to compete for a place, challenging Paulo Dybala for a spot in the starting XI. Bur despite Dybala’s recent struggles, his impressive track record against Torino – eight goals across 19 meetings and undefeated against them in the Serie A – could tempt Juric to start him once again.
Torino
Paolo Vanoli’s initial impact at Torino was promising, with the team climbing towards the Serie A upper ranks. However, after an impressive start, Torino stumbled with consecutive league defeats to Lazio and Inter, coupled with a Coppa Italia elimination by Empoli. A post-international break loss to Cagliari added to their woes, and conceding three goals in three straight games for the first time in four years only increased the pressure.
Yet, Torino managed to stabilize last weekend when 18-year-old Alieu Njie came off the bench to score the decisive goal against Como, halting their slide and lifting them to ninth in the standings. Their 14-point tally is Torino’s best at this stage of a Serie A season since 2016. If they manage to secure a win in Rome, Torino would extend their lead over Roma to seven points, strengthening their bid for a top-six finish.
Team News
Torino will once again be without Ivan Ilic and Borna Sosa, while captain Duvan Zapata is sidelined for the season, and Perr Schuurs remains out due to a significant knee injury. With these key absences, Paolo Vanoli is likely to field Che Adams and Antonio Sanabria as the starting duo in attack.
In Zapata’s absence, Karol Linetty is expected to take on the captain’s armband, adding leadership to a midfield that will need to perform strongly to compensate for Torino’s limited options in defence and attack.
Conclusion
Torino’s away record this season, with 10 goals scored and conceded, suggests another high-scoring game could be on the cards at Stadio Olimpico. As Roma grapple with on-field inconsistency and off-field issues, they may struggle to secure a win against a Torino side determined to capitalize on the Giallorossi’s vulnerabilities.
Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 14/5
Bookmaker: ZetBet