After the official presentation, in front of 20.000 fans, Walter Novellino's Torino took on Belgian side Bruges, who will be participating in the next UEFA Cup. The game was played under pouring rain, and in the first half Torino were able to put out their first choice formation.

Toro began very strongly, eager to do well in front of a fanatical crowd. Already in the 5th minute a nice combination between Lazetic and Ventola put the ex-Atalanta man alone in front of the goalkeeper, but the striker's attempt was saved by the keeper's foot.

The best chance of the first half came to Barone, who was well found by Rosina's assist in the 20th minute, but his shot from inside the area went high over the bar.

Rather against the run of play, it was the home side who went in front in the 38th minute; a free kick from the left by Vermant was badly handled by goalkeeper Sereni, who inadvertedly put the ball on the path of Vermeulen, allowing him to score an easy opening goal.

During the break, Novellino made several changes to the team, putting in 6 new players and opting for an attacking trident composed of Di Michele, Stellone, and Bjelanovic. Toro had two good chances within the first 5 minutes of the restart, but Stellone and Di Michele wasted them. In the 55th minute they had more bad luck as Stellone's header narrowly went past the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

In the 62nd minute the home side did get their equaliser, as midfielder Comotto, one of the symbols of Torino, finished off a counterattack with a precise shot on an assist by Bjelanovic.

An instant later Torino goalkeeper Sereni made up for his mistake which caused the Belgian goal, managing a double miracle save on Sterkele, who had just come in for Bruges.

After Bjelanovic wasted a decent chance in the 80th minute, the same player scored the winning goal, as four minutes before the end he headed in a very precise cross by Comotto, who thereby returned the favor after he had earlier profited from an assist by the Croatian striker.

It was to be the winning goal for Toro, as Sereni protected the home side's lead a minute later with a great save on a powerful shot from outside the area by Blondel.

TORINO – BRUGES 2-1

GOALS: 38° Vermeulen, 62° Comotto, 86° Bjelanovic

TORINO: Sereni, Comotto, Natali, Di Loreto (67° Franceschini), Lanna (46° Rubin); Zanetti (46° Vailatti), Corini (87° Bottone), Barone (46° Bjelanovic), Lazetic (46°  Grella); Ventola (46° Stellone), Rosina (46° Di Michele). COACH: Novellino

BRUGES: Verbauwhede, Vermeulen (76° Blondel), Priske, Maertens; Geraerts (63° Leko), Vermant , Daerden (Da Silva), Capon, Ibrahim (63° Sterkele) Simaeys (63° Djokic), Van Ruyskensvelde. COACH: Mathissen

Yellow cards: Ibrahim, Grella