By defeating Spezia on Sunday, Hellas Verona will try to avoid finishing at the bottom of Serie A’s standings going into the World Cup. In contrast, if the visitors win, they will be assured of staying out of the bottom three.
Verona lost 1-0 to Juventus at home on Thursday, marking their ninth straight league loss. Salvatore Bocchetti’s team was left one point next to Sampdoria at the bottom of the standings. In a heated match, Moise Kean’s goal on the 60 minutes mark appeared to be the deciding factor. Alex Sandro was later dismissed for a 2nd bookable offence.
Verona’s performance was better than in recent weeks; they produced 15 shots throughout the game, but they were unable to beat Mattia Perin in the opposing goal.
Bocchetti, who took over for Gabriele Cioffi exactly one month before their match against Spezia despite not possessing a UEFA Pro license, has so far lost all five of his matches in charge and has obviously failed to turn things around.
If the 35-year-old is to have any chance of keeping his job after the World Cup, he must prevent Verona from suffering their 10th straight defeat in Serie A on Sunday. The club’s future in Italy’s top division is becoming more and more precarious.
Spezia, who placed 16th the previous year, is trying to prevent relegation for the 3rd straight year. After both teams did draw on Tuesday, with Spezia keeping Udinese to a 1-1 tie at Stadio Alberto Picco, Luca Gotti’s team maintained a three point lead over Cremonese in 18th place.
Before Sandi Lovric levelled two minutes before halftime, Arkadiusz Reca had given the visitors the lead in the 33rd minute. Gotti was probably disappointed that his team didn’t score on 21 shots, as that could have been the difference-maker.
For a club of Spezia’s size, every point is important, especially after losing each of their previous three games. If they can add to Verona’s misery by winning their first league game since before the international break in September, they will return in the New Year with renewed confidence in their ability to achieve their main goal of staying up this season.
Hellas Verona Team News
Marco is likely to miss the game for Verona. Due to injuries, Diego Coppola, Ajdin Hrustic, Roberto Piccoli, and Davide Faraoni did not play against Spezia. Bocchetti might be tempted to start with the same lineup after last time’s improved performance despite a narrow loss to Juventus, but players like Miguel Veloso, Simone Verdi, Darko Lazovic, and Thomas Henry all offer options to change things up after coming off the bench.
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Dawidowicz, Hien, Ceccherini; Terracciano, Hongla, Kakari, Doig; Kevin Lasagna, Kallon; Duric
Spezia Team News
Reca, the Spezia team’s goal scorer from midweek, suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s draw with Udinese, and Gotti will be without a natural left wing-back replacement as a result. Due to muscle strains, Emmanuel Gyasi and Viktor Kovalenko will not travel to Verona.
Spezia possible starting lineup:
Zoet; Ampadu, Kiwior, Nikolaou; Holm, Ekdal, Bourabia, Agudelo, Ellertsson; Verde, Mbala Nzola
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