Torino midfielder Afriyie Acquah immediately makes his presence felt by clattering into Empoli captain Daniele Croce, and gets a talking to.

Then the visitors' Andres Tello hacks down Lucas Boye, and is booked. It could be that kind of game...

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We're off and running in bright sunshine in Turin.

Two changes for Empoli from the side who beat Crotone on Monday; veteran striker Alberto Gilardino replaces former Middlesbrough man Massimo Maccarone in attack, with Vincent Laurini is in for Marco Zambelli at right-back. Giuseppe Bellusci, in central defence, is on loan from Leeds.

Empoli XI: Skorupski; Laurini, Bellusci, Costa, Pasqual; Tello, Mauri, Croce; Saponara; Gilardino, Pucciarelli   

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Anyway, Hart gets the chance to make amends for last weekend's disappointments in a Torino team showing three changes from the one defeated at Atalanta; Afriyie Acquah, Joel Obi and Lucas Boye are in for Marco Benassi, Daniele Baselli and Maxi Lopez. Midfielder Mirko Valdifiori spent seven years with Empoli.

Torino: Hart; De Silvestri, Bovo, Castan, Molinaro; Acquah, Valdifiori, Obi; Falque, Boye, Martinez.

Joe Hart is not having much luck with team announcements so far. Last week, his name was misspelt on the team sheet. Today Torino's website has accidentally dropped him. According to the site, back-up goalkeeper Daniele Padelli has been named both in the starting line-up and among the substitutes. Bizarre... (The error has since been corrected, but it was up for a good 20 minutes.)

We have checked, by the way, and Hart is on the teamsheet, and his name has been spelt correctly this week.

Image source, torinofc.it

Image source, Getty Images

It has been a decidedly average start too for Empoli, who finished mid-table last season before coach Marco Giampaolo departed for Sampdoria. Giovanni Martusciello has been promoted, Mike Phelan style, after years as an assistant. He even looks a little bit like Phelan, if you squint. 

There have been few signs of Phelanesque heroics from Martusciello so far, though. Monday's win over promoted Crotone at least got Empoli's first three points on the board, but there has been a distinct lack of attacking quality so far.

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Joe Hart isn't the only man on duty in Turin today seeking to improve on a slow start. Sinisa Mihajlovic only took charge in May, having been sacked by AC Milan in April, and has not exactly hit the ground running. A 5-1 home win over Bologna was evidence of their exciting attack; defeats at AC Milan and Atalanta provided evidence of a wobbly defence. It's three points from three games so far.

Joe Hart, who has joined Torino on loan after being told he would not be Manchester City number one, wasn't too worried by his Serie A debut.

Speaking on Friday, he said: "Mistakes can happen. In Bergamo I was fine, I made a mistake, but my team-mates and the public have received me very well and I want to keep them happy. 

"The president and the coaching staff have made me feel at home right away. (Coach Sinisa) Mihajlovic and I have a good relationship. This new experience excites me very much and I want to improve every day.

"I grew up watching Serie A on TV on Sundays. I know there is also Juventus in town, but Torino are one of the best clubs in Italy."

As far as debuts go, it wasn't the best for Joe Hart last weekend.

It wasn't quite Jonathan Woodgate for Real Madrid, but it wasn't much better.

The England goalkeeper failed to deal with a corner for Torino against Atalanta and Andrea Masiello took advantage as Hart's side lost 2-1 after taking the lead.

Image source, EPA