Milan vs Torino: Serie A showdown with fourth‑place hopes on the line

When AC Milan travel to the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino for Serie A Matchday 26Turin, the stakes feel more like a knockout final than a routine league fixture.

On February 22, 2025, at 18:00 CET, Sérgio Conceição, head coach of AC Milan faces off against Paolo Vanoli, manager of Torino FC. Both men have been preaching the same mantra all season – every point matters – but the narrative around this clash is different.

Season context: the battle for European spots

At the time of the encounter, Serie A top‑flight is a tight race. Napoli sit first with 56 points, Inter second on 54, and Atalanta third with 51. Juventus and Lazio share fourth‑place material at 46 points each. Below them, AC Milan and Bologna are locked at 41 points, each with a game in hand.

Torino, perched in 11th place, have 28 points – a gap of 13 to the leaders but only a handful to the Europa League slots. The club’s recent form is a mixed bag: a 3‑2 loss to an unnamed opponent in the previous round, yet they have shown resilience by bouncing back with a 2‑1 win against a fellow mid‑table side.

• Napoli: 56 pts (1st)
• Inter: 54 pts (2nd)
• Atalanta: 51 pts (3rd)
• Juventus / Lazio: 46 pts (tied 4th)
• AC Milan / Bologna: 41 pts (tied 7th)
• Torino: 28 pts (11th)

Team news: injuries and tactical options

Conceição entered the press conference with a candid assessment of his squad’s health. “We’re missing Walker – the left‑back isn’t fit. Pulisic can’t run the full 90; we’ll manage his minutes. Giménez is still adapting, not yet at his best,” he explained. The Brazilian winger’s limited minutes have been a talking point all season, and the defender’s development curve remains a gamble.

Vanoli, on the other hand, highlighted the home advantage. “The Granata crowd gives us an extra edge. We need to be compact, press high, and use the flanks where Milan’s full‑backs are stretched,” he said. Torino’s recent injuries have been fewer, but the coach admitted that their depth is being tested as the schedule tightens.

Match preview: key battles and statistical edge

Statistically, Milan hold a slight edge in possession – 58% on average over their last ten games – but Torino have compensated with a higher pressing success rate (62% vs 55%). Both sides have scored 46 goals this season; however, Milan have conceded 38, while Torino have let in 42, suggesting a tighter defensive setup for the visitors.

Two match‑ups could decide the outcome:

1. Right flank duel: Milan’s right‑winger Rafael Leão versus Torino’s left‑back Gianluca Franchini. Leão’s speed will test Franchini’s positioning.
2. Midfield battle: The clash between Milan’s Franck Kessié and Torino’s Gabriele Zappa. Kessié’s physicality versus Zappa’s ball‑play.

Conceição hinted that he will “treat this as a Champions League final,” a line that raised eyebrows among pundits. The coach also warned that “our attitude has to be relentless; a slip could hand Torino three points.” Meanwhile, Vanoli promised “we’ll shock them with a high‑press, forcing errors early.”

Reactions from the dugouts

After the pre‑match press conference, a veteran Milan fan, Marco Bianchi, told us, “If they win, they’re still in the fourth‑place conversation. Lose, and they might slip into a mid‑table mess.” Across the city, Torino supporter Lucia Ferrara added, “The crowd will roar. We need a win to keep our Europa hopes alive.”

Both coaches have also been asked about the upcoming Coppa Italia quarter‑finals, where Milan face a knockout tie next week. Conceição admitted that squad rotation will be crucial, especially with the looming Champions League group stage looming later in the season.

What the result could mean for both clubs

If Milan pick up all three points, they could climb to 44, narrowing the gap to the top‑four chase to just two points – a realistic path back into Europe’s elite competition. Conversely, a loss would leave them trailing Bologna with a game in hand and increase the risk of a finish outside the top‑four, affecting revenue and player retention.

For Torino, a win would lift them to 31 points, potentially moving them into the top‑nine and strengthening their claim for a Europa League play‑off slot. A draw keeps them static, but a defeat could see them slide closer to the relegation‑watch zone if results elsewhere turn unfavorable.

In short, the match carries weight far beyond the three‑point reward. It’s a litmus test for both managers’ tactical acumen and the squads’ mental resilience as the season’s final third looms.