In a crucial early-season clash with potential relegation implications, Hellas Verona will host Venezia at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on Friday evening. Both teams find themselves in precarious positions after six rounds of Serie A action, separated by just two points near the bottom of the table.
Hellas Verona’s promising start to the campaign, highlighted by an impressive opening day victory over Napoli, has given way to a concerning three-match losing streak. Paolo Zanetti’s side currently sit 14th in the standings with 6 points, having suffered back-to-back 3-2 defeats in their last two outings. The most recent loss came against Como, where Verona were reduced to 10 men following Tomas Suslov’s controversial dismissal.
Venezia, meanwhile, find themselves in an even more precarious 19th position with just 4 points. Under the guidance of new manager Eusebio Di Francesco, the Lagunari secured their first win of the season against Genoa two weeks ago. However, they were unable to build on that result, falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Roma last weekend despite taking an early lead through Joel Pohjanpalo.
This fixture carries added intrigue due to the managerial connections between the clubs. Verona’s Paolo Zanetti previously coached Venezia, leading them to promotion in 2021 before their subsequent relegation. Conversely, Venezia’s current boss Eusebio Di Francesco had a brief stint in charge of Verona in 2021.
The last time these teams met in Serie A was during the 2021-22 season, with Verona emerging victorious in both encounters. The Gialloblu were particularly dominant in the home fixture, securing a 3-1 win thanks to a Giovanni Simeone hat-trick.
Team News
Verona will be without two key players due to suspension. Center-back Pawel Dawidowicz serves the second of his two-match ban, while winger Tomas Suslov is unavailable following his red card against Como. Injuries to Suat Serdar, Abdou Harroui, and Juan Cruz further limit Zanetti’s options.
The hosts are likely to maintain their 4-2-3-1 formation, with the main selection dilemma coming in attack. Danish striker Casper Tengstedt, on loan from Benfica, has been the preferred option recently but faces competition from Colombian forward Daniel Mosquera, who leads the team with three goals this season.
Venezia have fewer personnel concerns, with only Alfred Duncan listed as doubtful due to a muscular issue. Giorgio Altare and Bjarki Bjarkason remain sidelined until after the international break. Di Francesco is expected to continue with the 3-4-2-1 system that has shown promise in recent weeks.
Expected Starting XIs
Verona: Montipo; Tchatchoua, Daniliuc, Coppola, Frese; Duda, Belahyane; Livramento, Kastanos, Lazovic; Tengstedt
Venezia: Joronen; Idzes, Svoboda, Candela; Zampano, Ellertsson, Nicolussi Caviglia, Haps; Busio, Oristanio; Pohjanpalo
Match Prediction
Given the high stakes and the defensive vulnerabilities both sides have shown this season, this match could prove to be a tense and closely fought affair. Verona’s home advantage may be somewhat negated by their recent poor form and suspensions to key players.
Venezia, despite their struggles on the road, will view this as a golden opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone. However, their inability to hold onto leads this season could prove costly once again.
A draw seems the most likely outcome, with a predicted scoreline of 1-1. Such a result would do little to ease the pressure on either side, potentially setting the stage for a season-long battle against relegation for both Verona and Venezia.
Prediction: Verona 1-1 Venezia
