The first leg of the 2022/2023 Serie A championship is over, now the second leg is starting: Torino’s predictions, goals
Ready, away there was the return to the field as regards the Serie A formations, with the conclusion of the first round and the round of 16 of the Italian Cup. Surprisingly, two big names like Napoli and Milan were eliminated, respectively from Ballardini’s Cremonese, who arrived after Alvini’s sacking, and from Ivan Juric’s Turin. Turin that for the second time this season managed to beat the Italian champions of Stephen Pioli. The team had already established itself in the home league match, winning 2-1 thanks to goals scored by Djidji and Miranchuk. The reaction from Milan, however, had been useless, which he had shortened with Messias. Two months later, after the World Cup break, Torino returned to winning ways against the Rossoneri, this time in the Coppa Italia match played at San Siro on 11 January.
The return round of Juric’s Turin
The return to the field in January was not easy for Torino, given that despite the good performance in the Cup, the grenades obtained 2 draws and a defeat, which still mean ninth place behind Atalanta, Lazio, Rome and Udinese. The Europa League area, due to these recent results, has slightly moved away, but it is still early to take stock or predict how the second round will go for Turin. After the first day that sees Toro away in Empoli, against the team led by Paolo Zanetti, Juric’s men await Andrea Sottil’s Udinese at home, an opponent that is far from affordable, given what the Friulians have achieved especially during the first part of the tournament. Afterwards, San Siro will be played again, for the third match against Stefano Pioli’s Milan, then again Cremonese at home, the Mole derby with Max Allegri’s Juventus, Bologna, Lecce away and Naples at home to get to the break in March, the only one in the second leg of the Serie A championship.
The second round of the Serie A championship
Championship that once again offers an asymmetrical calendar, compared to that of the first round. The return to the field will be scheduled for Sunday 2 April, with Turin facing Alessio Dionisi’s downsized Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium. The internal challenge against José Mourinho’s Roma is scheduled for the 29th day. Followed instead by the match against Salernitana, Lazio at the Olimpico, Gasperini’s Atalanta at home. We then move on to the matches on the calendar for the month of May, which will formally close the season, even if the last championship match will be on Sunday 4 June. A long series championship, especially due to the long stop for the World Cup in Qatar. Turin therefore aims to gain access to Europe, also playing the Coppa Italia card, which at the moment has shown that nothing is taken for granted, even for teams like Milan and Naples, but those who have followed the match between Inter and Parma have seen that the cadet formations also made themselves respected during this stage of the tournament. After all, even Mourinho’s Roma narrowly won against Alberto Gilardino’s Genoa.
The fundamental dynamics for the Serie A championship
In terms of football predictions we have already seen how the championship is outlining a classification divided into several groups and sections, where there is an evident gap between Cremonese, Verona and Sampdoria and the rest of the other teams, such as Sassuolo, Salernitana, Spezia, Lecce, Monza and Empoli. Udinese, Turin and Fiorentina are having a mid-table season, if possible looking higher than lower, even if the gap between Udinese and Roma is already quite clear, with a consistent advantage that could further consolidate. Roma currently fifth (or sixth) on a par with Lazio and Atalanta, are 13 points behind the leaders Napoli.
Final considerations
Thirteen points obtained in 19 matches, almost a record for our Serie A, if we consider that the trio is still in contention for a placement valid for the Champions League, almost certainly for the next edition of the Europa League. Then there is seventh place to take into consideration, which grants direct access to the Conference League, the third international competition of a European nature (UEFA) which could be a good opportunity and an opportunity to relaunch for teams such as Turin, Udinese and Fiorentina, with a respectable European vocation and history. However, let’s say that Torino will still have to repeat the performances and results that have been seen during this part of the season, with a championship still long and hierarchies to be established and consolidated. However, the championship could still reserve many surprises for many of the teams involved in this tournament which has once again returned to high levels of competition.
