Torino winger Iago Falque. (Photo : Getty Images)
Lowly clubs Torino FC (1-2-0, 3 points) and Empoli FC (1-2-0, 3 points) will both try to improve their past lackluster performances as they are booked to face each other in a 2016-2017 Serie A season match on Sep. 18, Sunday at the former's Olimpico di Torino.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 9:00 a.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Torino commenced their season with a sorry 2-3 defeat to AC Milan before pulling off a remarkable 5-1 victory over Bologna in their second game.
However, the team is coming off another disappointing loss, 1-2, to Atalanta on the road at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia in Bergamo last Sunday for their second loss in three games, Daily Mail Online reported.
The first 45 minutes of the game passed with both teams unable to score until Spanish winger Iago Falque broke the deadlock at the 54th minute. It was the lone goal for new head coach Siniša Mihajlović's side, though, as they never scored again since then.
La Dea took advantage of Il Toro's poor defense as they netted the next two goals of the contest, courtesy of defender Andrea Masiello and midfielder Franck Kessie at the 56th and 82nd minutes, to snatch away the three points from the visitors.
Meanwhile, Empoli also had a poor start to the season, losing their first two games to Sampdoria, 0-1, and Udiness, 0-2, both in shutout games.
Head coach Giovanni Martusciello's side is evidently lacking in offensive options this term, thus their inability to give themselves enough chances to score goals consistently.
Nonetheless, their last match ended in a 2-1 nipping of newly-promoted side Crotone at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on Monday to give the team its first win this term, as per Yahoo Sports.
Gli Azzurri finally found their scoring form as defender Giuseppe Bellusci scored the game's opening goal at the 31st before teammate Andrea Costa netted the winner at the 56th.
Crotone's Mario Sampirisi leveled the count during the first half injury time before Costa's goal grabbed back the lead for Empoli.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 2-1 win for Torino.
Torino starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Hart; De Silvestri, Bovo, Castan, Molinaro; Benassi, Valdifiori, Baselli; Falque, Lopez, Martinez
Empoli starting lineup (4-3-1-2 formation): Skorupski; Zambelli, Bellusci, Costa, Pasqual; Tello, Jankovic, Croce; Saponara; Maccarone, Pucciarelli
