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·4 February 2024

Serie A | Torino 0-0 Salernitana: Boateng inspires on debut

Salernitana picked up a precious point and rare clean sheet on Jerome Boateng’s debut, neutralising Torino on home turf.

The Granata were missing Alessandro Buongiorno and Perr Schuurs, with Koffi Djidji not fully fit. Pippo Inzaghi’s side were rock bottom after four unlucky defeats in a row, plus Federico Fazio, Norbert Gyomber and Lorenzo Pirola injured, leaving a decimated defence, so veteran Jerome Boateng was thrown straight into the starting XI for his first game since June 2023. Lassana Coulibaly was also still at AFCON and Boulaye Dia not at 100 per cent.

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Boateng might not have played for eight months and had only two training sessions with his new team, but still used his experience to cut off a promising Duvan Zapata attack.

Toro’s injury crisis in defence got even worse when Ricardo Rodriguez limped off with a muscular problem, making way for January signing Adam Masina.

Toma Basic and Antonio Candreva blasted off target from distance, while Samuele Ricci’s header struck the side-netting on a cross to the back post.

Marco Pellegrino, on loan from Milan, made his Salernitana debut for the understandably tired but impressive Boateng.

Masina drilled just wide from the edge of the box and the first shot on target of the game was on 66 minutes, Guillermo Ochoa flying to palm away the Karol Linetty control and half-volley from outside the area.

Salernitana lost another defender, as Triantafyllos Pasalidis fell awkwardly on his shoulder, but got their first effort on target at the 81st minute with Boulaye Dia’s strike beaten away at the near post.

Pietro Pellegri peeled away from his marker on a short corner and Ivan Ilic cross, but steered the header wide from seven yards.