Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Coppa Italia match.
Torino begin a new era under Marco Baroni in the Coppa Italia first round, where they are expected to set the tone with an attacking display against Serie B side Modena. After parting ways with Paolo Vanoli, the club made it clear that dull football would no longer be tolerated — supporters want to see goals.
Torino
Since mid-July, Torino have played five friendlies, with their only win coming against Cremonese (4:1). The transfer window has been encouraging: Cyril Ngonge and Giovanni Simeone joined from Napoli, while Zakaria Aboukhlal and Franco Israel add depth. With Perr Schuurs sidelined, Baroni is likely to lean on fast, direct football — much as his Lazio side thrived on counter-attacks last season.
Modena
Last term Modena finished 11th in Serie B, seven points off the play-off places, but their defence was among the worst in the top half (50 goals conceded). They arrive on a run of four friendly wins, though none against strong opposition. On paper, their squad is heavily outmatched — valued at €20.3m compared to Torino’s €152m — and they will also be without key defender Alessandro Dellavalle through injury.
Torino vs Modena Prediction
The last time these sides met was in a pre-season clash two years ago, when Torino edged it (2:1). This time, with home advantage and far superior quality, the hosts should cruise past Modena.
