AS Roma vs Torino preview - Roma eyeing revenge mission

Posted Monday, March 24, 2014 by PA

Coach Rudi Garcia remembers all too well where Roma's title challenge began to unravel and getting revenge on Torino would certainly help his side fix some of the damage.

The Giallorossi made a sensational and unexpected start to the current Serie A season, blazing a trail with 10-straight wins while reigning champions Juventus struggled to keep up.

The tide turned on November 3, however, when Alessio Cerci's goal earned Torino a 1-1 draw with Roma at Turin's Stadio Olimpico to inadvertently let their city rivals Juve take control of the table.

Roma are now 14 daunting points off the lead with only 10 games remaining, but Garcia's men are currently in good form and eyeing a third-straight victory from Tuesday's clash in the capital.

Garcia told a pre-match press conference: "Unfortunately in the first game against the Granata our streak of 10 straight wins was interrupted due to some refereeing mistakes.

"I remember there was a foul on (Mehdi) Benatia before their goal and (Miralem) Pjanic should have won a penalty.

"However, these things can happen. Now that game is behind us and only tomorrow matters, we want to keep progressing.

"We will do everything we can to secure second place. At the moment that's the only goal that seems achievable to me."

Defender Benatia serves a one-match suspension while full-backs Maicon and Federico Balzaretti join midfielder Kevin Strootman on the injury list. Vice-captain Daniele De Rossi should return following a ban.

Tenth-placed Torino are missing several key players - including forwards Marcelo Larrondo and Paulo Barreto - through injury and goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet remains absent thanks to his 13-month ban for failing to report match-fixing.

The Granata snapped a four-game losing streak when beating strugglers Livorno 3-1 on Saturday and hat-trick hero Ciro Immobile is targeting an Italy call-up.

The 24-year-old striker brought up his 16th goal by completing a treble at the weekend and was quick to issue a come-and-get-me plea to national boss Cesare Prandelli ahead of the World Cup.

"If he calls me I'll be ready," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The coach knows just how much commitment and dedication I put into every training session every single day.

"This year I wanted to show everyone what I'm made of, and now I want to continue doing what I'm doing."