Bologna vs Torino preview - Ventura wants Bologna boost

Posted Saturday, April 06, 2013 by PA

Torino head coach Giampiero Ventura is targeting three more points to edge his side towards guaranteed survival in Serie A, but opponents Bologna have exactly the same objective.

An impressive unbeaten spell through the festive period gave the Granata the foundation they needed to ride out the second half of the season without any realistic fears of relegation, but three defeats from five have given Ventura food for thought in recent weeks.

A nine-point cushion over 18th-placed Siena may not protect Torino if they continue to struggle over the eight-game run-in, while Bologna are eager to pull 13 points clear with victory at the Renato Dall'Ara.

Ventura told torinofc.it: "To be certain we will need five points from our last eight games. It doesn't matter who they come against, we just need to get them as soon as possible.

"The secondary objective is to understand what kind of team spirit we found to obtain them.

"If we can work that out then we can be more confident when going up against tougher opponents in the future."

The veteran tactician has identified the cause of Il Toro's recent slump after rewatching DVDs of recent games against Napoli, Parma and Cagliari, in which late lapses of concentration have seen his side beaten in the final phases.

"We've now had three totally different games in which we've conceded late goals," he added. "We've analysed them and come to the realisation that you can't afford to relax in Serie A.

"In all three cases we had built a deserved lead. We are seeing the same mistakes being committed regularly and only experience will serve to stop us making them again."

Defender Guillermo Rodriguez serves a one-match ban with Jonathas, Matteo Brighi and Valter Birsa all missing through injury.

For Bologna, full-back Marco Motta is suspended while defensive midfielder Diego Perez continues to nurse an injury suffered on international duty with Uruguay.

Midfielder Saphir Taider told the Corriere dello Sport: "It will be an important game for us. Our objective is booking our survival and we hope to move closer to it with Saturday's game.

"We want to start the match well, with intensity and determination."