Atalanta vs Torino preview - Duo aiming to continue progress

Posted Sunday, September 30, 2012 by PA

Atalanta and Torino will seek to build on their positive starts to the season in their Serie A showdown at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia.

The rivals are positioned in mid-table having secured five points in their opening five games, with Torino sat one place higher in 11th.

Torino shared a goalless draw with Udinese on Wednesday night and coach Giampiero Ventura is confident they are heading in the right direction.

"I was happy with the performance, but obviously disappointed with the result," Ventura said.

"We deserved to win. We controlled the game and that performance was further evidence that we are on the right track.

"We played against a great team like Udinese in Serie A with four rookies, but restricted them to just one shot at goal, in the final minute of added time."

The only element missing from a dominant Torino performance was the goal they deserved, striking the woodwork three times.

Veteran defender Salvatore Masiello, midfielder Sergiu Suciu and winger Walter Birsa are unavailable because of injury. Skipper Rolando Bianchi will lead the line.

Atalanta boss Stefano Colantuono marked his 400th match as a coach with a 2-1 defeat at Catania, despite his side taking the lead.

It ended their three-match unbeaten run and Colantuono said: "We have some aspects to work on for Torino."

Atalanta have been ravaged by injury with Guido Marilungo, Ivan Radovanovic, Ferreira Pinto, Daniele Capelli, Carlos Carmona, Davide Biondini and Gianpaolo Bellini in the treatment room.