Duvan Zapata’s header proved enough for Torino to get the better of Empoli in a game where three goals were ruled offside.
The Granata were frustrated by a goalless draw away to Frosinone that left them on the outskirts of the fight for European places and still missed Perr Schuurs after knee surgery, but Karol Linetty returned from suspension. Empoli were eager to break out of the drop zone, but Tommaso Baldanzi, Ciccio Caputo, Bartosz Bereszynski, Viktor Kovalenko and Giuseppe Pezzella were not fully fit.
Antonio Sanabria scored one of the most beautiful goals in his entire career after 10 minutes with a stunning bicycle kick from 12 yards into the far top corner. However, it did not count because Nikola Vlasic was offside in the build-up.
Toro did take the lead when Raoul Bellanova got down the right and floated a ball to the back post for the towering Duvan Zapata header.
Defensive bodies in the six-yard box prevented Ivan Ilic and Sanabria from tapping in, but Empoli equalised on an equally chaotic situation.
A corner was not cleared, Sebastiano Luperto managed to flick it on and Tyronne Ebuehi on his birthday got his toes to the ball before Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. However, after a very long VAR review, it was ruled offside by a matter of millimetres.
Liberato Cacace also had the ball in the back of the net with a free header just before half-time, but this time his offside was considerably more obvious.
Linetty couldn’t keep the volley down after a smart Sanabria chip over the defence, but Vanja Milinkovic-Savic had to time the interception absolutely perfectly when rushing off his line to fingertip the ball off to foot of Matteo Cancellieri clear on goal.
Torino 1-0 Empoli
Duvan Zapata 25 (T)
Player statistic
| Duván Zapata (Assist: Raoul Bellanova) |
 |
25' | ||
| Karol Linetty |  |
45+4' |
| Raoul Bellanova | |
71' | ||
| Alessandro Buongiorno | |
80' | ||
| 81' | |
Liberato Cacace | ||
| Nikola Vlasic | |
85' | ||
| 88' | |
Sebastiano Luperto |
Match statistic
