Empoli - Torino preview - Ventura hoping for new spark

Posted Sunday, December 14, 2014 by PA

Torino coach Giampiero Ventura hopes Thursday's Europa League 5-1 triumph at Copenhagen can spark his team domestically.

The Granata return to Serie A action on Monday at Empoli on the back of their biggest win of the campaign.

The result in Denmark allowed Toro to progress to the round of 32 of the Europa League.

"I hope this important qualification as well as the big win gives more confidence to my team, no just in Europe but in Italy," Ventura told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are slowly getting closer to the level that we want to be.

"We just need to have more self-belief and the results will come."

Torino have won just three of their opening 14 league games, their last a 1-0 triumph over Parma on October 29.

The Turin outfit has collected two points since then and last weekend's 2-2 draw against Palermo dropped Toro to 17th place.

Ventura's side is two points clear of the relegation zone and a defeat in Tuscany could see the Granata fall to the bottom three for the first time this season.

"Our only focus is on winning at Empoli," Toro striker Carvalho Amauri said. "We hope our win at Copenhagen will mark a turning point for us."

The Granata will have to show a vast improvement if they are to succeed in Tuscany for they have lost five of their six games away from home so far.

Moreover, Torino have the second worst attack in the competition behind Atalanta having only scored 10 times in 14 matches.

Empoli, who gained promotion to Italy's top flight earlier this year, head into the match at the Carlo Castellani stadium in buoyant mood.

The Tuscan outfit held Napoli to a 2-2 draw last weekend in Naples to extend their unbeaten run to four games.

"I am really proud of my players," Empoli coach Maurizio Sarri said. "They showed a lot of character against a top team and in a big stadium like the San Paolo is."

b Empoli are 13th in the standings, two points clear of Monday's rivals.

The visitors will be bolstered by the return of midfielder Alessandro Gazzi from suspension.