Torino vs AC Milan preview - Cerci putting sentiment aside

Posted Friday, January 09, 2015 by PA

AC Milan winger Alessio Cerci will have to put emotions to one side when he faces his former club Torino on Saturday - the first time he will have done so since leaving the Turin outfit last summer.

Cerci, who joined Milan last week on a six-month loan from Atletico Madrid, could earn his first start in Turin having made his AC Milan debut in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to Sassuolo.

The Italy international enjoyed two successful seasons with Toro before being sold to Spanish champions Atletico in September.

"If I score on Saturday I will not celebrate," Cerci told his club's official website. "How could I celebrate?

"I have a tattoo that is dedicated to Torino, it's a club and a place that has stayed in my heart.

"I hope I will get a good reception. I gave all my heart and soul to that club.

"But on Saturday there's only one thing on my mind and that is to help AC Milan return to winning ways.

"Torino have a good side and a great coach. We need to have the right determination to beat them."

Milan missed an opportunity to climb to fifth in the standings when they surprisingly fell 2-1 at home to Sassuolo.

The Rossoneri, coached by Filippo Inzaghi, have won just one of their last four league games to drop to seventh in the standings.

Rivals Torino are riding a four-match unbeaten run in Serie A and their goalless result at Chievo last time out saw them climb to 14th place, six points clear of the drop zone.

The Granata, who have drawn three of their last four league games, continue to struggle in front of goal.

Toro have alongside Chievo the weakest attack in the competition, with just 12 goals scored in 17 games.

To complicate matters for Toro coach Giampiero Ventura, Brazilian-born striker Carvalho Amauri sustained a groin injury in training and is out for this weekend's encounter.

Fortunately for Ventura, Omar El Kaddouri has recovered from a muscular problem and will lead Toro's attack alongside Fabio Quagliarella.