Ardito to replace Barone?

di Andrea Rosselli

On Saturday morning, Toro sustained the last training session before leaving for Ascoli, where they will face the current Serie A bottom-placed team on Sunday afternoon.

The Granata, who will chase their 5th positive result in a row, are all healthy and available: coach Zaccheroni will only miss suspended midfielder Simone Barone, who serves a one-round ban. The most likely substitute is Andrea Ardito, although there's a slight chance for Stefano Fiore as well, while defender Marco Di Loreto will be back from his suspension.

The rest of the starting eleven should be the same of the last weeks, with Franceschini and Cioffi completing the usual 3-men defensive line in front of Abbiati, Balestri and Comotto on the wings, De Ascentis in the middle and the Lazetic-Rosina duo supporting Roberto Stellone upfront.

As for Ascoli, the locals recover most of the players who missed last week's match against Reggina: influential right winger Fini and young Ukrainian midfielder Boudianski should be back in the starting eleven and defender Foglio is also available, while experienced midfielder Fontana is doubtful with a foot problem and midfielder Pesce is suspended.

The hosts, managed by veteran Nedo Sonetti (a former Granata coach as well) are expected to play with the usual 4-1-4-1 lineup: 40-year old Pagliuca between the posts, defensive line formed by Cudini, Pecorari, Nastase and Vastola, Boudianski as the defensive midfielder, Fini, Zanetti, Galloppa and Guberti in the middle and Bjelanovic (who scored 5 out of Ascoli's 10 goals so far) as the lone striker.