Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Serie A match.
There may not be a large gap between Torino and Bologna in the league table, but Bologna, a Champions League participant, showcase far superior football than the Turin side. It appears that Vincenzo Italiano has finally adapted to his new club, with his methods being swiftly integrated, leading to noticeable improvements in results.
Torino
Torino's victory over Empoli (1:0) was a rare success that somewhat halted their descent into a relegation battle. This marks only their second win since 24 September across 12 matches, while their opponent was simply unlucky with their chances (14:10 in shots, 4:4 on target). Torino are among Serie A's bottom five teams in terms of xG (17.20), yet they've been fortunate in defence, conceding 20 goals against an expected 23.44.
Bologna
Since the end of November, Bologna have hit a fine run of form, remaining unbeaten in five matches. During this period, they kept four clean sheets, with the exception being their visit to formidable Juventus (2:2), where they even led by two goals. Against their manager's former team, Fiorentina, Bologna recorded 0.96 xG and held onto a narrow victory late in the match.
Torino vs Bologna Prediction
In eight home matches, Torino have emerged victorious just twice. We recommend opting for the reliable handicap on Bologna for this game, as their form speaks volumes.