Friendly matches: Lazio and Torino earn victories in final test games of 2026
Quick summary
Lazio and Torino both won their final pre-season friendly matches of 2026, using the games as test matches ahead of the upcoming season.
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Attributed to original sourcePetar Ratkov scored twice as Lazio beat Ostiamare 4-0 in a friendly, while Torino saw off Vado 3-1 thanks to a Sandro Kulenovic double.
These were the final pre-season friendly tests for both teams, because they will begin their competitive season in the first round of the Coppa Italia next weekend.
Lazio and Torino secure wins VERONA, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Petar Ratkov of SS Lazio during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SS Lazio at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on January 11, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images) Gennaro Gattuso’s Lazio took to the field against Serie C team Ostiamare and ran out 4-0 winners.
Once again, Ratkov was the star of the summer for them, scoring the opening two goals before half-time.
Mattia Zaccagni missed a penalty by blasting it onto the crossbar, but did make up for it later with a pair of late tap-ins.
Surprisingly, Alessio Romagnoli was in the starting XI, as his transfer to Al-Sadd seems to have well and truly collapsed.
Lazio are in action for the Coppa Italia against Mantova on August 16.
PISA, ITALY – APRIL 5: Arturo Calabresi of Pisa Sporting Club in action against Sandro Kulenovic of Torino FC during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and Torino FC at Arena Garibaldi on April 5, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) Torino also played against a Serie C team, beating Vado 4-1 in their final test before the Coppa Italia clash with Carrarese on August 15.
Kulenovic took centre-stage by finding the net twice, then the third arrived late on through 19-year-old Tommaso Gabellini.
Midfielder Kian Fitz-Jim started after his transfer from Ajax.
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What happened
Italian Serie A clubs Lazio and Torino recorded victories in their final friendly matches of 2026, using these fixtures as preparation tests for the competitive season. Friendlies at this stage are typically used by coaches to assess squad fitness, evaluate tactical setups, and give minutes to players returning from injury or new signings. The results themselves carry limited predictive value, but they offer insight into squad depth and early-season form for both clubs.
Chance analysis
Pre-season friendly wins are largely noise for prediction systems, but the lineups, minutes distributed, and injury updates from these matches can provide marginal signal. Key takeaways will be which new signings are being integrated, whether injured players returned, and what tactical shapes coaches are experimenting with. These data points are more valuable than the scoreline itself for upcoming Serie A match prediction.
Minimal direct impact on competitive fixtures; slight positive morale effect for Lazio and Torino heading into the season.
Treat friendly results as low-signal; prioritize extracting lineup, fitness, and tactical-shape information rather than the final score.