Saturday evening marks a momentous landmark for the hosts, Monza, who will play their very first fixture in their history in the Italian Serie A when they play host to Torino at the U-Power Stadium following promotion from Serie B at the end of the previous campaign.
Monza overcame Pisa in an epic play-off final, eventually winning 6-4 on aggregate and the hosts have also enjoyed a successful summer pre-season where they were unbeaten in six warm-up games and collected five wins in the process.
🎟️ | BIGLIETTISono in vendita i biglietti per il primo match in casa contro la Lazio 🔥👉https://t.co/BSarjAV6zY#SFT pic.twitter.com/dGL27MmcyC— Torino Football Club (@TorinoFC_1906) August 10, 2022
🎟️ | BIGLIETTISono in vendita i biglietti per il primo match in casa contro la Lazio 🔥👉https://t.co/BSarjAV6zY#SFT pic.twitter.com/dGL27MmcyC
The hosts then registered a 3-2 win against Frosinone in the Coppa Italia to hand them the best possible start ahead of what is expected to be a tough baptism of fire for Monza as they prepare for their first ever season in the domestic top flight.
Having won 12 of their last 13 home games, Monza will be quietly confident about their chances of getting something out of this clash although the hosts will be without the services of goalkeeper Lamanna and midfielder, Machin, due to suspensions while defender Bettella and midfielder Pessina are rated as doubtful with injuries.
Torino finished last season’s Serie A campaign sitting in a comfortable mid-table position of 10th which would have satisfied the majority of their fans as, realistically, they were some way off from achieving a top seven finish (12 points adrift of 7th placed Fiorentina), but they also possessed a healthy 20-point buffer above the relegation zone as well.
It was an improvement upon the previous last two campaigns for Torino though as they had previously finished in 16th and 17th place respectively, so to conduct a season without any relegation worries is seen as a vast improvement.
Torino produced a fairly solid run-in towards the end of last term as well, with the hosts losing just twice in their final nine games, incurring losses at home to 3rd placed Napoli and 6th placed Roma, but four wins against Salernitana, Spezia, Empoli and Verona kept them safe along with points picked up in draws with AC Milan, Lazio and Atalanta.
Defender Zima is battling a shoulder injury and will be absent while fellow defender Buongiorno is suspended. Defender Vojvoda is rated as questionable for this clash.
Torino have never lost to Monza in a competitive match and this trend looks set to continue on Saturday evening as the visitors seek a quick start against the new-boys.