Walter Mazzarri was in a boisterous mood after his Torino side had beaten Milan 2-0, which saw them leapfrog the Rossoneri in the Serie A standings. The Granata, according to their Coach, no longer had an inferiority complex and could instead focus on achieving what many thought was impossible - qualifying for the Champions League. Toro have not participated in the competition since 1976-77, when their one and only campaign ended with a second-round defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach. Now they have hopes of finishing fourth, but can they get over the line?

“The team is growing exponentially and I hope we can continue along this path until the end of the season and beyond,” Mazzarri enthused. He had a right to, in fairness. Toro had just taken apart a Milan side who had European ambitions of their own. They pressed from the start and worked hard as a unit, goals from Alex Berenguer and Andrea Belotti finishing the Diavolo off. Mazzarri had said his team were more like Atalanta than his Napoli outfit of 2009-13, and he was right. The team ethic and work rate very much resembled the outfit from Bergamo.

What Torino have achieved this campaign is remarkable. They are now unbeaten in six games and have been defeated only once since losing to Roma back in January. They have picked up wins against Inter, Sampdoria and Milan in this run and have kept nine clean sheets in 2019. They certainly have the momentum but face a tough task as the Derby della Mole is just around the corner and, no matter whether Juventus have anything to play for or not, they will not want to lose this game. If they can navigate this then the Champions League could be a real possibility. Their following two matches against Empoli and Sassuolo are winnable, making Lazio at home on the final day of the season a crucial fixture.

What's been so impressive about the Granata is how they have been working hard under the radar as most of Serie A have been purring about Atalanta and shaking their heads at the Milanese and Roman clubs. Andrea Belotti has six goals in his last 10 games and seems to be hitting form at the right time. His 13 :eague goals have been crucial, but he’s not the only hero, Salvatore Sirigu in goal has been perhaps one of the season’s best shot-stoppers and his contribution has been vastly underrated. Nicolas N’Koulou, Soualiho Meite, Cristian Ansaldi and Daniele Baseli are also just some of the men Mazzarri has been able to count on this term. They may not be names that people talk about, but together they have created something special in Turin.

Mazzarri will be aware of the mountain his side still have to climb, but they are certainly motivated. The entire club is singing from the same hymn sheet, with Torino President Urbano Cairo being one of the main cheerleaders. He declared himself proud after his team beat Milan for the first time since 2001 and classed it as one of the best moments since rescuing the side from bankruptcy. If Torino were to get to the Champions League, it would be testament to Cairo as he has helped assemble a squad who are, at the very least, worthy of the Europa League.

There will be debate as to whether Italian football would be better served if Milan and Inter managed to get into Europe. After all, who hasn’t heard the old additive that ‘for Italian football to be great again, it needs a strong Juventus and two Milan clubs.’ On the other hand, both Atalanta and Torino have given so much this season and it would be a fairy tale for one of them to reach the Champions League. Who doesn’t like fairy tales?

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