Reggina-Torino Match Preview

By: bingitz2002 | September 14th, 2008

Tomorrow we are going to Reggio Calabria to face Reggina, a team that has miraculously survived a couple times now. It will be an emotional return to the tip of the boot for a couple Toro players, but the whole team will be concentrated on getting a full three points from this match and maintaining the excellent start we’ve had. Things won’t look too different from two weeks ago, so as long as De Biasi gets his tactics right we can probably score a win here.

Our Opponents

Reggina are an interesting team who have done well to stay in Serie A in the past couple years. In the summer 0f 2006, when the flies were sent down to Serie B, Reggina was also slapped with a massive points penalty. Nonetheless they managed to survive relegation, largely thanks to two players, Rolando Bianchi and Nicola Amoruso, both of whom currently play for Torino. Last season, they were involved in a relegation battle but managed to survive largely because they were just a little bit beter than Empoli, Livorno, and Parma. Still, they will be looking to spend 2009-2010 in Serie A and a win here would help them.

Torino-Reggina Connecitons

Apart from the obvious Bianchi and Amoruso connections to Reggina, Aimo Diana, Ivan Franceschini, and Roberto Stellone have all feature for the amaranto in the past. On the other hand, this Reggina side features no players that have ever featured for us. Both Amoruso and Bianchi have said that they will try their hardest to score against Reggina but they will not celebrate if they score, which is fair in my mind. Both strikers had an important portion of their careers in Reggio Calabria and have a relationship with the fans, but as long as they try their hardest I will hold nothing against them. It is also interesting to note that Bianchi and new Reggina signing Bernardo Corradi were teammates at Man City.

Last season we defeated Reggina 3-1 in this edition of the fixture with current Toro players scoring all the goals. Rosina netted two penalties while Stellone added another and Amoruso scored for Reggina. However, in the other leg of the tie last season Reggina held us to a 2-2 draw at the Olimpico after Cozza scored from a free kick resulting from a mishandled backpass by Sereni. Overall we have a fairly even record against Reggina with seven wins, four draws, and six losses. In Serie A we are dead even, 3-2-3 though we have score more goals.

Probable Formations

Reggina

—————Corradi-Brienza
Halfredsson-Carmona-Tognozzi-Vigiani
———Costa-Cirillo-Valdez-Lanzaro
—————–Campagnolo

Allenatore: Nevio Orlandi

Torino
———-Bianchi
—–Amoruso-Bianchi
–Säumel-Corini-Zanetti
Rubin-Pratali-Di Loreto-Diana
———–Sereni

Allenatore: Gianni De Biasi

Key Players

Reggina: Bernardo Corradi

After a fairly poor spell in England, the Siena-born hitman is looking to end his career on a good note in Serie A. He score two weeks ago in Reggina’s 1-2 defeat to Chievo and will be looking to get on the scoresheet against Torino and continue his good form. He is strong in the air and will be a threat to our defenders if they are not at the top of their game. Although our defenders are also strong and good in the air, if they are not aware of Corradi’s movement we could face serious problems. Also, Diana and Rubin will have to be wary and try to prevent crosses, as that will probably be Reggina’s preferred method of creating chances.

Other players to watch: Franco Brienza, Bruno Cirillo, Carlos Carmona

Torino: Alessandro Rosina

After a fairly disappointing 2007-2008, Rosinaldo showed us some of his his scintillating best in the first round’s 3-0 victory over Lecce. The fantasista will be looking to replicate that form against Reggina as he assumes nearly complete responsibility for the side’s creativity. (Though Corini will certainly help a bit.) If he plays his best then it will be extremely difficult for the Reggina defense to contain him and with solid strikers like Bianchi and Amoruso up front the goals should come.

Other players to watch: Rolando Bianchi, Nicola Amoruso, Matteo Rubin

My Thoughts

This could be a tricky tie. Going to the south to play is a hard thing for any team, regardless of whether it is Inter or Atalanta. However, we have a fairly good recent record against southern teams and we should hope to continue that against Reggina. We will have to be very aware of Corradi’s goalscoring potential and Brienza’s creativity while Vigiani and new signing Carlos Carmona could also pose a threat from the midfield. I have been thinking a bit about Amoruso and Bianchi and although they have strong connections to the club they are also great professionals who will most likely do their best to perform as they would against any club. Although he isn’t predicted to start, I hope to see Blerim Dzemaili, who has been given the number 4, to feature in the game. He performed quite well in the friendly against Pro Vercelli and will hopefully make an impact, either starting or more likely off the bench. My prediction? Reggina 1-2 Torino.

FORZA TORO!