Torino v Juventus Live Commentary & Result, 18/02/2018, Serie A

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	JUV Juventus	38	30	5	3	86	24	+62	95	W D W W L
2	NAP Napoli	38	28	7	3	77	29	+48	91	W W D L W
3	ROM Roma	38	23	8	7	61	28	+33	77	W D W W W
4	INT Internazionale	38	20	12	6	66	30	+36	72	W L W L W
5	LAZ Lazio	38	21	9	8	89	49	+40	72	L D D W W
6	MIL Milan	38	18	10	10	56	42	+14	64	W D W W L
7	ATA Atalanta	38	16	12	10	57	39	+18	60	L D D W W
8	FIO Fiorentina	38	16	9	13	54	46	+8	57	L L W W L
9	TOR Torino	38	13	15	10	54	46	+8	54	W W D L L
10	SAM Sampdoria	38	16	6	16	56	60	-4	54	L L L W L
11	SAS Sassuolo	38	11	10	17	29	59	-30	43	L W W L W
12	GEN Genoa	38	11	8	19	33	43	-10	41	L L L L W
13	CHI Chievo	38	10	10	18	36	59	-23	40	W W W L L
14	UDI Udinese	38	12	4	22	48	63	-15	40	W W L D L
15	BOL Bologna	38	11	6	21	40	52	-12	39	L L L L D
16	CAG Cagliari	38	11	6	21	33	61	-28	39	W W L L D
17	SPA SPAL	38	8	14	16	39	59	-20	38	W L W W L
18	CRO Crotone	38	9	8	21	40	66	-26	35	L D L W W
19	VER Hellas Verona	38	7	4	27	30	78	-48	25	L L L L L
20	BEN Benevento	38	6	3	29	33	84	-51	21	L W L D W

Over to you, Napoli! Juventus are back at the top of the Serie A table thanks to a determined and well-executed win against their local rivals, and they'll stay there if the Partenopei aren't able to find a way past SPAL this afternoon. Just one goal was all it took for the Old Lady to come away with all three points, as Torino really struggled to find much joy against such a compact and well-organised defence.

FULL-TIME: TORINO 0-1 JUVENTUS

Torino are presented with one final opportunity to push forward after Sturaro is caught in an offside position. They're unable to make it count, however, as a hopeful ball forward is easily dealt with by the Juventus back line. That should be that.

C. Molinaro

Yellow Card

Molinaro, who clearly looks frustrated at being second best for most of the game, catches Dybala from behind and sends the forward crashing to the ground, leaving the referee with no choice but to show him a yellow card.

S. Lichtsteiner

F. Bernardeschi

The visitors have made a late switch, with Bernardeschi being replaced by Lichtsteiner in a defensive alteration.

A lofted pass is fired towards the edge of the Juventus penalty area and picks out Belotti, who quickly nods the ball down to Falque. The latter tries to find Belotti once again with a deft chip, but it isn't executed well enough and can't pick out the striker.

The fourth official has indicated that there will be four minutes of added time.

A pocket of space opens up for Falque in the middle of the pitch, allowing him to sprint into the Juventus half of the pitch. The visitors immediately charge back and get into a compact defensive shape, though, and it denies the Spaniard a way through on goal.

Dybala darts down the right wing and tries to get the better of Rincon, but he's tripped over by the Venezuelan and wins his side a free-kick. Bernardeschi tries to hold up the ball near the corner flag but quickly loses out, allowing Niang to charge forward on another attempted counter-attack that fails to come to anything.

Ansaldi controls the ball well over on the right flank before Edera brings Falque into the game. The Spaniard tries to cut into the penalty area but is let down by a poor final touch, and once again Juventus are easily able to deal with the limited danger.

Torino are continuing to see most of the ball as we near the final five minutes, but Juventus are making it incredibly difficult for the home side to break them down. The Bianconeri seem content to sit back and soak up the pressure being put on them, and so far it's a tactic that's working well.

Niang, who has largely impressed since coming off the substitutes' bench, manages to carve out a pocket of space for himself out wide before curling a cross over to the far post. Edera rises high and goes close to meeting it, but he can't quite get his head to the ball.

S. Edera

L. De Silvestri

Torino have made their third and final alteration, with De Silvestri making way for Edera. It looks as if Ansaldi is going to drop back to right-back, with Edera occupying the space just in front of him.

Niang does well to win a corner for the home side over on the left wing, but it's comfortably dealt with by Juventus and fails to result in a chance on goal. The ball bounces out to Falque, though, and the Spaniard is able to get a shot away, but his 25-yard strike is well stopped by Szczesny at the near post.

Niang bursts into the left-hand side of the visitors' box and tries to latch onto a lofted pass from Molinaro, but the full-back's ball forward is slightly overhit and bounces out of play for a goal-kick. Torino are attacking better than they were earlier in the half but are still struggling to break down a stubborn Juventus back line.

Falque does well to get deep down the right flank before spinning and trying to pick out Rincon. The midfielder totally misses the ball but deflects it over to Molinaro, who shoots himself but sends a speculative effort closer to the corner flag than the goal.

Dybala is caught from behind by Molinaro as he cuts inside from the right wing, resulting in a free-kick for Juventus in a promising position. The cross over to the far post is a good one and picks out Sandro, but the Brazilian can't do much with the ball and chests it behind for a goal-kick.

A. Acquah

J. Obi

Torino have made a switch in midfield, with Acquah coming on to take the place of Obi, who put in a good shift today.

Excellent opportunity for Dybala to make it 2-0! Sandro showcases wonderful skill as he weaves his way into the Torino box and towards goal. He then pokes a clever pass back to Dybala, who is in a pocket of space, but the Argentine snatches at the ball and sends his shot high over the crossbar.

A curling cross is fired into the Juventus penalty area from the right wing and perfectly picks out Niang. He brings the ball down well and shoots, but his effort on goal is a poor one and fails to trouble Szczesny. That was the wrong decision by the Senegalese forward, who had Falque up there with him.

Early chance for Dybala! The Argentine is immediately set up by a wonderful pass from Bernardeschi and quickly takes on Sirigu, but, under pressure from the goalkeeper, he can only chip a first-time shot into the side-netting.

P. Dybala

Douglas Costa

Juventus have made their second change of the game, with Costa making way for Dybala, who comes on to make his first appearance in over a month.

M. De Sciglio

Yellow Card

Niang is cynically dragged back by De Sciglio as he charges forward, resulting in a yellow card for the defender and a free-kick for Torino in a decent position. It's sent wide to Ansaldi and sets him up to cross, but his ball over to the far post sails just over the head of N'Koulou.

Torino are certainly performing better since the introduction of Niang, who is offering a decent attacking threat when pushing forward. Juventus have pushed slightly deeper into their own half of the pitch, and they're having to defend well to keep their determined rivals at bay.

Costa bursts down the left wing and crosses, but his ball into the box is a poor one and can only bounce over to Niang. The substitute quickly counter-attacks and blasts a cross-field pass towards Belotti, who sticks out a leg but can't stop the ball from sailing out for a throw-in.

Ansaldi picks up the ball in space over on the right flank and quickly whips a cross into the middle of the visitors' box. It's well hit by the full-back, but Belotti is penalised for a push on Rugani as the two battle for the ball and Juventus hold on.

Belotti receives the ball on the edge of the visitors' box and is immediately clattered into by Chiellini, leaving him in a heap on the floor holding his nose. He seemed to receive a flailing arm in the face from the Juventus defender, but the referee doesn't believe it was deliberate and allows play to continue.

Niang immediately gets himself involved in the thick of the action as he muscles his way past Chiellini and into the Juventus penalty area, but he's penalised for a foul on the centre-back just as he's about to take on Szczesny. That's more like it from the home side!

M. Niang

D. Baselli

It's Niang who comes on to replace Baselli, who found it difficult to make much of an impact today.

It's proving to be a disappointing afternoon for Torino, who are struggling to see much of the ball and, when they do, are causing very few problems for their rivals in advanced areas. It looks as if Mazzarri is ready to make a much-needed change.

Sturaro makes a quick run into the Torino box and tries to latch onto a looping cross from Khedira, but the German's pass is slightly mishit and Sirigu is easily able to collect the ball under very little pressure.

Juventus push forward once again, and this time it's Costa who gets himself into a good position out wide. He then tries to chip a cross towards a team-mate in front of goal, but Baselli is there to make sure the ball can't find a white and black shirt inside the penalty area.

Almost a chance for Khedira to double Juventus' lead! A curling cross from Bernardeschi swerves into the middle of the Torino box and picks out Khedira in a promising position. The German controls the ball, spins and tries to shoot, but he's dispossessed from behind by Burdisso just as he's about to do so and has to settle for a corner.

We're underway once again!

The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.

So far, so good for Juventus, who as things stand are heading to the top of the Serie A table. They suffered an early blow when Higuain was forced off after tangling with Sirigu, but, despite not being at their best, the Bianconeri did well to fight back against a determined Torino side before taking the lead. The intensity of the hosts' pressing diminished as the first half wore on, and it's left them needing a big response after the break if they're to get back into the game.

HALF-TIME: TORINO 0-1 JUVENTUS

Obi is clattered into by Sturaro, resulting in a free-kick for Torino in a decent position in the middle of the pitch. Falque steps up and chips a cross into the box, where it fails to pick out a team-mate and is easily headed away by Chiellini.

The fourth official has indicated that there will be two minutes of added time.

Great interception by N'Koulou! Costa, who seems to be operating in a totally free role now that Higuain has made way, dances his way into the left-hand side of the hosts' penalty area and looks set to shoot, but just as he's about to pull the trigger, N'Koulou pulls off a wonderful sliding tackle to dispossess the Brazilian.

De Silvestri, who hasn't seen much of the ball in advanced areas, darts down the right wing as Torino try to carve out a chance on goal before the half-time break. They're unable to do so, though, as a cross-field pass flies past the full-back and behind for a goal-kick.

More good play from Bernardeschi sees him weave his way through the middle of the pitch before setting up Khedira. The attacking move is slowed down before Costa cuts inside and tries to pick out Sandro, but he can't quite do so and the latter is eventually flagged offside.

Sturaro makes a quick run towards the edge of the Torino penalty area as he tries to latch onto a quick, lofted pass from Chiellini, but he isn't quite able to get his head on the ball and loses out to Burdisso, who then nods it back to Sirigu.

It just isn't quite working for Torino at the moment. The home side started well but are struggling to carve out many chances on goal, with Belotti looking increasingly isolated as he tries - and fails - to get on the end of hopeful balls forward.

Torino patiently knock the ball around in the middle of the pitch before Molinaro and Ansaldi link up well over on the left flank. The latter then tries to whip a cross over to Belotti, but it's underhit and fails to beat the first man on the edge of the penalty area.

F. Bernardeschi

Assist

That was a really good piece of play by Bernardeschi, who got himself into a really good position before putting the ball on a plate for Sandro. Molinaro arguably should have done better defensively, mind.

Alex Sandro

Goal

GOAL! Juventus lead! Sandro breaks through the middle of the pitch on a great run before picking out Bernardeschi in a great position over on the right flank. The substitute easily skips past Molinaro on his way into the box, where he squares a pass for Sandro to blast into the back of the net from a few yards out.

Sandro is bundled over by Baselli as they battle for the ball, and Juventus are awarded a free-kick just outside of the Torino box on the left wing. Pjanic steps up and shoots, but his curling effort is comfortably pushed away by Sirigu.

Obi does well to win the ball back on the halfway line, and once again Torino quickly hit their rivals on a counter-attack. The ball is thumped forward and finds Belotti, who initially controls it with his head but is dispossessed by a giant leap from Asamoah.

And now De Silvestri goes close! Another lofted pass causes a few problems for the Juventus defence, and it forces Sandro into heading the ball behind for a corner over on the right wing. Falque's first cross isn't a good one but the ball bounces back to the Spaniard, allowing him to set up De Silvestri to test Szczesny with a well-placed glancing header.

Decent chance for Belotti! A fantastic lofted pass from Falque flies over the top of the Juventus back line and towards Belotti, who makes a good run towards the near post. He's able to latch onto the ball and shoot, but he can only find the side-netting with his first-time volley.

Chiellini pushes into the Torino half of the pitch and quickly tries to pick out Sturaro, but his lofted pass is mishit and can only find Burdisso on the edge of the penalty area. That rather sums up Juventus' performance so far.

Sandro is caught in possession just inside his own half of the pitch and loses out to a sliding tackle from behind by Belotti. Torino then try to quickly counter-attack once again, but this time the referee brings an end to the move and awards a free-kick to the visitors for the striker's challenge.

Torino successfully deal with the resulting corner and try to counter-attack quickly, but Falque can't quite pick out Belotti on the halfway line and Rugani is there to win back possession for the visitors.

Vital block by De Silvestri! Sandro makes a wonderful run down the right wing and towards the edge of the box, where he pokes a deflected cross over to Asamoah, who quickly shoots. His strike is a decent one, but De Silvestri is there to stop it from testing Sirigu at the far post.

Ouch! Pjanic is caught late by a really poor sliding challenge from Ansaldi, leaving the Bosnian in a heap on the floor and in serious discomfort. He looks absolutely furious at the referee about the tackle, and it's no wonder why!

F. Bernardeschi

G. Higuaín

It's Bernardeschi who comes on to replace Higuain. It looks as if Costa is going to operate in the middle, with Bernardeschi and Sandro either side of him.

Higuain is down on the floor once again, and it now seems certain that his day is done. He shakes his head as he limps over to the touchline and onto the substitutes' bench. Big blow for the reigning champions!

A long throw-in from Obi fails to find a team-mate inside the Juventus box, and it allows the visitors to immediately counter-attack. Higuain is quickly brought into the game, but he's closed down by a group of midfielders and fails to do anything with the ball. The striker still looks to be struggling, and he's not moving at all well right now.

Asamoah gets himself into a good position out wide at the end of a patient piece of play by Juventus. He quickly whips a curling cross into the middle of the penalty area and onto the head of Sandro, but the Brazilian can't make decent contact with the ball and Molinaro is easily able to clear the danger.

And now Falque goes close! Torino quickly come back once again and blast a well-placed lofted pass into the visitors' box. Falque charges towards the ball and goes close to meeting it, but he can't quite do so with an outstretched leg at the near post.

Huge mistake by Obi! Juventus are sloppy on the halfway line, allowing the Nigerian to burst into the Juventus half of the pitch and towards the penalty area on a dangerous counter-attack. He has Belotti to his left and only Rugani to beat, but his pass towards the striker is poor and sends him too wide to shoot.

Higuain is able to jog back onto the pitch as Torino patiently work the ball into the Juventus half of the pitch. Ansaldi gets himself into a good position out wide before being clattered into by De Sciglio, who takes out the defender but also wins the ball.

This doesn't look good for Higuain, who went down after tangling with Sirigu and looks to be in serious discomfort. The Argentine was initially able to continue before dropping to the floor once again, and for now the game is going to continue while the striker receives medical treatment.

Almost an early chance for Juventus! A deft pass is clipped into the Torino penalty area and through to Higuain. The striker darts towards the ball and goes close to meeting it, but Sirigu is there to push the ball away with a diving interception at the vital moment.

We're off! Torino get us underway, attacking from left to right.

The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off. The atmosphere inside the stadium is electric!

Meanwhile, Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has made four alterations to the team that featured in their last outing, with Buffon, Benatia, Bernadeschi and the ill Mario Mandzukic making way for Szczesny, Rugani, Asamoah and Sturaro, respectively.

Walter Mazzarri has decided to make just one change to the Torino side that started the win against Udinese, with Ansaldi coming into the starting line-up to replace Niang out wide.

Juventus substitutes: Gianluigi Buffon, Medhi Benatia, Claudio Marchisio, Paulo Dybala, Andrea Barzagli, Carlo Pinsoglio, Benedikt Howedes, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Rodrigo Bentancur, Federico Bernardeschi.

Juventus XI (4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny; Mattia De Sciglio, Daniele Rugani, Giorgio Chiellini, Kwadwo Asamoah; Sami Khedira, Miralem Pjanic, Stefano Sturaro; Douglas Costa, Gonzalo Higuain, Alex Sandro.

Torino substitutes: Salvador Ichazo, Kevin Bonifazi, Mirko Valdifiori, Afriyie Acquah, Adam Ljajic, M’Baye Niang, Simone Edera, Alex Berenguer, Antonio Barreca, Emiliano Moretti, Vanja Savic.

Torino XI (4-5-1): Salvatore Sigiru; Lorenzo De Silvestri, Nicolas N’Koulou, Nicolas Burdisso, Cristian Molinaro; Iago Falque, Daniele Baselli, Tomas Rincon, Joel Obi, Cristian Ansaldi; Andrea Belotti.

There’s just under 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up today…

Juventus have totally dominated the Derby della Mole in recent years, with six of the previous seven games between the two sides ending in victories for the Old Lady. Torino last enjoyed a win against their local rivals back in April 2015, but that’s the only time in 25 meetings they’ve managed to do so. This contest has proved to be a one-sided one but, with the hosts in impressive form, should be a lot tighter today.

Today’s clash is undoubtedly Torino’s biggest under their new manager, and it’s set to thoroughly test the capabilities of his in-form side. Andrea Belotti scored his first goal of 2018 - and only his second since mid-September - in the win against Udinese, and Mazzarri will be hoping that his injury-plagued star striker is now back to his best and firing on all cylinders.

It was a disappointing first half of the season for Torino, who only lost four league games but found victories extremely difficult to come by. Lacklustre performances led to Sinisa Mihajlovic making way for Walter Mazzarri, and since then the Granata have enjoyed their joint-best domestic run since February 2015. They’re currently unbeaten under the former Napoli and Inter boss, with Udinese the latest side to fall.

It’s now almost exactly three months since Juventus last tasted defeat, but Tuesday’s bitterly disappointing draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur will have felt like a loss. Despite going 2-0 up after just nine minutes, the Bianconeri retreated into their shell and were held to a 2-2 draw, leaving them with plenty of work to do at Wembley in two weeks’ time. With things as tight as they currently are in Serie A, they can’t afford a similar result here today.

The Derby della Mole is always a fascinating and action-packed event, and that looks set to be the case once again today. Juventus sit just one point behind league leaders Napoli - who are in action at home to SPAL this afternoon - and could see their title hopes severely dented by any sort of slip up. The reigning Serie A champions are in imperious form domestically, and they need to extend that excellent run against their local rivals if they’re to keep the pressure firmly on the Partenopei.

Good morning and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Serie A game between Torino and Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.

Torino v Juventus Live Commentary, 18/02/2018

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