Serie A club Torino defeated Serie B club Modena 1-0 in the first preliminary round of the 2025-26 Coppa Italia at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Torino's home ground, amidst a large crowd of fans who attended the match to support their team in a festive atmosphere marking the start of the new season
Similar Circumstances
The two teams' circumstances are similar in their competitive context. Both finished 11th in their league last season, and both have strengthened themselves with numerous summer signings, with Torino making seven and Modena eight. There is also a similarity in their physical condition as both are playing their first official match of the season after the end of the pre-season period and have reached the required level of physical readiness to start the season strongly
Torino goalkeeper Franco shined
The match was characterized by strength and competitiveness between the two teams, with many chances exchanged here and there, but at the end of the first half there was a flood of attacks from Modena on Torino, with the role of the new arrival in the summer deals, the Uruguayan goalkeeper Franco, the Torino goalkeeper, appearing, who presented his credentials in his first official match with the club and had the most prominent role in stopping the flood of Modena attacks at the end of the first half and all attacks throughout the match. Without him, Modena would have come out ahead by a goal or two at least at the end of the first half, in a result that would have been a major surprise given the difference in rank between the two teams
A sudden and successful substitution by Baroni
At the start of the second half, Baroni, Torino's Italian coach and former Lazio coach, surprised Modena by substituting Moroccan left winger Zakaria Aboukhlal for Turkish player Emirahn ilkhan. Minutes after coming on, ilkhan received the ball in midfield and charged forward until he reached outside the Modena penalty area, firing a powerful shot that was saved by Argentine goalkeeper Chichizola. The attacking midfielder Croatian Vlašić followed up and slotted it net, announcing Torino's first and only goal of the match in the 51st minute
Modena then tried to make amends, but the inexperience of their players, coupled with frustration at the impact of the goal, and the alertness and brilliance of Torino's defense and goalkeeper prevented an equalizer. The match ended with Torino winning 1-0, qualifying for the second preliminary round of the tournament
Torino's Character
The match demonstrated the strength of both teams and their good preparation for the start of the season. Both teams displayed numerous technical touches, with numerous attempts on goal (11 for Modena and 7 for Torino), and 7 corner kicks for Modena versus 4 for Torino. However, it was Torino's character and their goalkeeper, Franco, who had the final say in the match. This goalkeeper prevented Modena from taking the lead in the first half with his brilliant saves, and he maintained his team's lead in the second half until the end of the match
Notable Moments
The match witnessed some notable moments, including the attendance of Argentine coach Diego Simeone, coach of the Spanish team Atletico Madrid, to watch the match to support his son, Giovanni, who plays for Torino. Coach Baroni brought him on in the second half in the 60th minute, and he displayed some technical skills during the match, demonstrating his skill and talent, just like his father. Another notable moment was the Torino fans' warm welcome of their beloved Colombian star, Duvan Zapata, who returned from injury and entered the field in the 88th minute
Pros and Cons of the Match
The match demonstrated both teams' readiness for the new season, albeit with the need to improve and correct some errors. Torino needs to increase defensive security and prevent opponents from creating as many chances as they did against Modena, while Modena needs to improve their finishing to capitalize on the numerous opportunities they create during the match. This is a positive point for both teams, and in this way, both teams are fully prepared for the new season
