CAGLIARI

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 26 - 28/2/07 (14.00 UK)

Torino - Cagliari
Stadio Olimpico

Relegation strugglers Cagliari and Torino meet at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday just 48 hours after changing their Coaches.

The Turin giants axed Alberto Zaccheroni on Monday, bringing back Gianni De Biasi who was sacked just three days before the start of the season. There was also a return for the Sardinian outfit as Franco Colomba was shown the door, just eight games after stepping in for Marco Giampaolo who has taken charge of the team again.

Toro are in deep crisis after six straight losses. Saturday’s display against Chievo was simply disastrous and led to the inevitable departure of the tactician from Cesenatico. It’s unclear what line-up De Biasi will field, but he is advantaged by the fact that he bossed the team in pre-season.

His first selection issue will be over star man Alessandro Rosina. He was omitted from the Verona clash for criticising the club and teammates on his personal website, but Rosina is just too much of a key player to be left in the stands.

Elsewhere in the side, towering defender Grabiele Cioffi and full back Gianluca Comotto will return after suspension. In defence, former Reggina stopper Ivan Franceschini, who had a nightmare against Chievo, will be substituted by Marco Di Loreto.

Cagliari are also having a bit of a tough time of it as their performance against Lazio in Week 25 illustrated. Giampaolo will probably line up with a 4-4-2 formation. Attacking midfielder Andrea Capone should start once again, despite being contested by fans last week. Antonio Langella will be missing due to suspension after his ludicrous dismissal on Sunday.

Man on fire: Alessandro Rosina (Torino) – Torino won’t stand a chance without the genius of ‘Rosinaldo’. This talented 22-year-old attacking midfielder is the soul of the Granata and can open up any defence with his bag of tricks.

Last season: Not played

Form guide: Torino (L L L L L) Cagliari (W L D L L)

Torino (probable): Abbiati; Bovo, Cioffi, Di Loreto; Comotto, De Ascentis, Ardito, Coco; Rosina, Abbruscato, Stellone

Cagliari (probable): Fortin; Ferri, Bizera, Bianco, Agostani; Budel, Conti, Biondini, Capone; Pepe, Suazo

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Torino squad: Abbiati, Taibi, Balestri, Bovo, Brevi, Cioffi, Franceschini, Comotto, Di Loreto, Ogbonna, Coco, De Ascentis, Gallo, Ardito, Lazetic, Rosina, Muzzi, Abbruscato, Konan, Oguro.

[D-Kin]

TORINO: Abbiati, Bovo, Balestri, Brevi, Comotto, Ardito, Lazetic, Rosina, Gallo, Muzzi, Abbruscato
Subs: Taibi, Coco, Cioffi, Franceschini, De Ascentis, Konan, Oguro

CAGLIARI: Fortin, Agostini, Lopez, Bianco, Ferri, Conti, Colucci, D'Agostino, Biondini, Capone, Suazo
Subs: Aresti, Canini, Pisano, Del Grosso, Marchini, Budel, Penalba

[D-Kin]

Torino 1-0 Cagliari

23' Bovo

[D-Kin]

A nice header from Rosina's corner.

[D-Kin]

Cagliari want a penalty, not given.

[D-Kin]

Rosina has a shot cleared off the line.

[D-Kin]

HT 1-0 to Torino.

[D-Kin]

Abbiati saves well from Suazo.

[D-Kin]

Ardito sent off for Torino.

[D-Kin]

He kicks the wall of the tunnel as he walks away.

[D-Kin]

FT 1-0 to Torino.

[Forza_Roma]

Good for Torino as they finally get a win and great for Bovo

Serie A Week 26 - 28/2/07 (14.00 UK)

Torino 1 - 0 Cagliari
Bovo 23 (T)
Stadio Olimpico

Cesare Bovo scored the goal, Gianni De Biasi returned to the bench, but Torino's real hero was Christian Abbiati.

This was certainly a bizarre match from the outset. Both Torino and Cagliari fired their Coaches on Monday and brought back their predecessors - Alberto Zaccheroni making way for De Biasi and Franco Colomba stepping aside after just eight games for the returning Marco Giampaolo.

It was also, unsurprisingly considering the situation, battling against relegation. Toro were on six straight defeats, while the Sardinians had lost three of their last four and were without the injured Mauro Esposito and suspended Antonio Langella. Having been left in the stands as punishment for criticising the club, Alessandro Rosina returned to the fold under De Biasi's new regime.

David Suazo sprinted into the area and his shot was beaten away by Christian Abbiati, but it was Toro who opened the scoring.

After 23 minutes Cesare Bovo caught the rearguard unawares for a free header from a corner kick.

Rosina excelled under De Biasi last season and he was back to his best, a low angled drive beating Abbiati only to be kept out by a Daniele Conti goalline clearance.

Suazo was a constant danger and Abbiati required a desperate save to keep out the Honduran's header from point-blank range.

Abbiati was keeping Toro in front and fingertipped an Andrea Capone header out from under the crossbar.

In the final minute the former Juventus and Milan goalkeeper was again decisive, flying to push Capone's free kick out of the top corner.

Ardito was sent off for a late tackle, but Abbiati kept up the heroics on Pepe's counter.

Torino: Abbiati; Comotto, Brevi, Bovo, Balestri; Gallo, Ardito; Lazetic (Cioffi 81), Rosina (Oguro 87), Muzzi (De Ascentis 59); Abbruscato

Cagliari: Fortin; Ferri, Lopez, Bianco, Agostini (Del Grosso 72); Biondini (Marchini 61), Conti, Colucci, D'Agostino (Pepe 46); Capone; Suazo

Ref: Farina

Sent off: Ardito 90 (T)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

I'm pleased for Bovo, especially as he's been injured for a lot of the season.

Well done to Di Biasi as well.

[D-Kin]

Game highlights:

TalkSoccer Media Player

Click here to download it.