Torino wins against Verona and is first in the standings (for one night)

Torino’s great start to the season continues, remaining undefeated under Paolo Vanoli: 3-2 against Hellas Verona, down to ten men from the 21st minute, and alone at the top for a night in a Serie A that is also tinged with garnet. A victory that gives the coach new certainties, forced to do without the injured Saul Coco from the start: his attack runs perfectly, with all three centre-forwards (Zapata, Sanabria and Adams) scoring. The start is very balanced at the Bentegodi and an individual play is needed to break through, with Toro taking the lead: Duvan Zapata’s backheel and Sanabria doesn’t miss in a one-on-one with Montipò. We’re at the 10th minute and two minutes are enough for the spectacular equaliser by Kastanos who, on a corner, receives from Lazovic and unleashes an unstoppable left-footed shot for 1-1.

The match continued at a very high pace and experienced its definitive turning point in the 21st minute, when Dawidowicz elbowed Sanabria and was blocked expelled. There is also a penalty for Toro, but the Paraguayan first kicks the ball towards the post and then tries the tap-in, obviously resulting in an offside and ruining everything. From here on it is a dominance of Toro, who reached 80% possession and came close to taking the lead on several occasions. The Granata found it in the 34th minute, with Duvan Zapata’s header that left no chance for his marker Magnani and Montipò.

The Granata also came close to scoring a hat-trick with Duvan and Walukiewicz, only risking a long-range shot from Kastanos. In the second half, Verona covered up and showed off the qualities of Belahyane. Bought for just 500 thousand euros from Nice, the midfielder proved to be perfect in interdiction and also showed a well-trained foot: his ball to Livramento was splendid, who kicked (curving) just wide. The second half, however, was all in favor of the Turin, which dominates and pushes in search of the hat-trick. Vanoli manages his team’s energy, taking off Ilic, and celebrates in the 78th minute: Magnani loses a dangerous ball and the substitute Che Adams takes advantage, with a right-footed shot that leaves Montipò no chance. A goal, the Scotsman’s second in Serie A, that doesn’t close the game. Hellas gives the debut of the 2006-born Lambourde, a new gem discovered by Sogliano, and surprisingly closes the gap in the 92nd minute: Masina gets everything wrong, Belahyane steals the ball and provides the assist for Mosquera’s 3-2. There’s no time for other goals and Torino celebrates anyway, overtaking Udinese: with 11 points, for one night the Granata will tower over everyone in Serie A. Verona stops at 6 points, betrayed by one of their veterans. After Dawidowicz’s expulsion, there was no match until the reaction of pride in injury time.

The scoreboard

HELLAS VERONA (3-4-2-1) – Montipò 6; Dawidowicz 4.5, Coppola 5, Magnani 5; Tchatchoua 5.5 (41′ st Lambourde sv), Belahyane 7, Dani Silva 5.5, Lazovic 6 (1′ st Daniliuc 5.5); Kastanos 6.5 (25′ st Livramento 6), Sarr 6 (27′ Frese 5.5); Tengstedt 5 (25′ st Mosquera 6). On the bench: Berardi, Perilli, Faraoni, Bradaric, Okou, Sishuba, Alidou, Ajayi, Cissé, Ghilardi. Coach: Zanetti 5.5.

TORINO (3-5-2) – Milinkovic-Savic 6; Walukiewicz 6.5 (37′ st Dembelé n/a), Maripan 6.5, Masina 5.5; Lazaro 6.5, Tameze 6 (22′ st Linetty), Ricci 6.5 (46′ st Njie n/a), Ilic 6.5 (22′ st Gineitis), Sosa 6; Sanabria 6 (22′ st Adams 6.5), Zapata 7. On the bench: Paleari, Donnarumma, Karamoh, Pedersen, Saul Coco, Ciammaglichella, Bianay Balcot, Njie. Coach: Vanoli 7. Referee: Marinelli 6.5. GOALS: 10′ Sanabria, 12′ Kastanos, 34′ Zapata, 73′ Adams, 93′ st Mosquera. NOTE: serene evening, pitch in good condition. Yellow cards for Coppola, Kastanos, Livramento. Dawidowicz sent off in the 21st minute. Sanabria misses a penalty in the 22nd minute. Corners 5-6. Injury time: 3′, 5′.