Torino vs Pescara preview - Ventura wary of Pescara threat

Giampiero Ventura is wary of the threat posed by fellow promotees Pescara as Torino prepare for their first home game of the Serie A season.

Both Giovanni Stroppa's Delfini and Ventura's Granata are new arrivals in the top flight, having claimed the first and second spots respectively at the end of last year's Serie B campaign.

Torino enjoyed a more comfortable opening day, claiming a hard-earned point at Siena, whereas Pescara suffered a 3-0 defeat at home to Inter Milan.

But Ventura remains fully aware that much of the squad who scored 90 goals in the second tier last season will arrive at the Stadio Olimpico eager to make amends.

He told torinofc.it: "We want to do better against Pescara. Once we've worked out their line-up we will decide what to do.

"We always look to get a result. The Toro always wants to win and we will certainly set out do so against Pescara.

"In just the second match of the championship you can't talk about important games.

"It's a challenge as we're up against a team that caused the Nerazzurri a lot of problems while it was still goalless.

"It will be a match where, if we presume too much, things will go badly.

Winger Alessio Cerci could be handed his Toro debut after arriving too late to feature against the Robur on Sunday.

"Cerci only arrived three days ago and we can't pretend he's in perfect condition," Ventura added.

"They have an impressive selection of players in attack, but that will allow us to get in behind them and create chances on goal

"At the same time we have to be careful at the back in case they hurt us.

"It will be nice if we put on a good performance, responding in the possible way to the passion shown by our fans.

"All the players are working hard and are enthusiastic, we have worked hard to get all of them up to the same standard over the last year and now we have a cohesive group.

"The objective that I have in mind will only be achieved through hard work and steady improvement."

Stroppa confirmed that the Delfini would employ their expected 4-3-3 but kept his cards close to his chest when asked to identify key personnel.

He told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "(Alessandro) Crescenzi is not fully fit and won't play.

"(Christian) Terlizzi is ready to play but I don't want to tinker with the formation. I can't put too many players up front and ruin everything.

"(Ante) Vukusic is in great shape and that's in his favour, even if Jonathas has been working hard.

"We need to improve gradually."