Minute-by-minute updates as Wolves bid to make the group stageFirst-leg match report: Torino 2-3 WolvesNicky Bandini: Serie A returns with goals and Sinisa MihajlovicEmail: rob.smyth@theguardian.com 7.53pm BST 8 min “Nice to see Nuno putting faith in Jesus to break up the back three hegemony of Coady-Boly-Bennett,” says Phil Russell. “Bennett defied all expectations in getting through last season without being too exposed but is the weakest link of the 3, especially when it comes to pace. Playing both yellow-card magnet Saiss and Dendoncker in midfield is more negative and I wonder if Nuno is looking to shield the defence with effectively a 1.5 goal cushion and try and hit on the break. Thought Gibbs-White or Neto would’ve got a start. Might be a cagey first 45 that comes to life after the break.” 7.53pm BST 7 min Torino try the old Beckham/Scholes corner. Baselli connects well with his volley but screws it well wide. 7.52pm BST 7 min Aina goes on a jaunty run infield before hitting a weak shot from 25 yards that takes a slight deflection and goes behind for a corner. 7.50pm BST 5 min “Sitting just a half a mile from Molineux and with a salmon sandwich in hand, I predict a 2-2 draw tonight and an aggregate win,” says Pete. “But why is Neves on the bench again? Pop over for a Horlicks if you get cold.”I’m sure Neves would have started if you were behind in the tie. Nuno will have to take some risks with rotation this season, certainly if you reach the group stage. 7.50pm BST 4 min A clipped cross from Diogo Jota just evades Ji-MEN-ez at the near post, after which there’s a break in play while Izzo receives treatment. He’s unhappy with one of the Wolves players, Jonny I think. 7.48pm BST 3 min Nothing to report so far. 7.47pm BST 2 min “Meanwhile, Celtic are winning in Sweden,” says Alec McAulay. “You know, Celtic - from Glasgow; Glasgow, you know - in Scotland; Scotland, you know - near the Lake District.”I do know; I live there. 7.46pm BST 1 min Peep peep! Torino, in their familiar burgundy kit, get the match underway. Wolves are in gold. 7.43pm BST “Can I use your stage to get something off my chest?” says Simon Frank. “The Wolves striker is called Raul Ji-MEN-ez, emphasis on the second syllable. Not JIM-enez. Ditto Martinez. Ditto every bloody Spanish name ending in –ez. It’s my mission to erase this mistake from every football podcast out there. Except Nessun Dorma - they’d never make such a basic error.”To be fair, we struggle to pronounce Steve Bull’s name correctly. 7.28pm BST “Hi Rob,” says Phil Grey. “It’s actually 4,679,216,614,909,999,999,532 matches. You’re forgetting the 1991 European Cup final between Red Star and Marseille.”I paid a lot of money to Lacuna, Inc. to have that game erased from my memory. 7.03pm BST Pre-match reading Related: Champions League draw: Liverpool drawn with Napoli, Spurs face Bayern 6.48pm BST Wolves (3-5-2) Rui Patricio; Vallejo, Coady, Boly; Traore, Dendoncker, Joao Moutinho, Saiss, Jonny; Jimenez, Diogo Jota.Substitutes: Ruddy, Bennett, Pedro Neto, Ruben Neves, Cutrone, Gibbs-White, Ruben Vinagre. Torino (3-5-2) Sirigu; Izzo, Bremer, Bonifazi; De Silvestri, Baselli, Rincon, Lukic, Aina; Zaza, Belotti.Substitutes: Rosati, Singo, Berenguer, Millico, Meite, Parigini, Djidji 1.52pm BST Hello. Molineux is where European football started, with the famous match between Wolves and Honved in 1954. Sixty-five years and 4,679,216,614,909,999,999,531 matches later, it’s great to have Wolves back. This is their first season in Europe since 1980-81; and unlike many English clubs, they see the Europa League as an opportunity rather than a hassle. Nuno Espirito Santo knows that cups = glory. And if the atmosphere during the match against Manchester United 10 days ago is anything to go by, there are going to be some barnstorming European nights at Molineux this season. First they need to finish the job they started so impressively when they won 3-2 away to Torino a week ago. If they do that, they will join Arsenal and Manchester United’s in tomorrow’s draw for the group stage. Continue readingreadfullarticle
