As Serie A action resumes in the new year, Hellas Verona welcome Udinese to the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on Saturday evening in a match with implications at both ends of the table. The hosts will be looking to build on their recent victory and further distance themselves from the relegation zone, while Udinese aims to solidify their position in the top half of the standings.
Verona enter this fixture with renewed confidence after a stunning 3-2 away victory against Bologna in their final match of 2024. That crucial win lifted them to 16th place, four points clear of the drop zone. However, their home form has been a concern, with three consecutive losses at the Bentegodi, conceding 10 goals and scoring just once in that span.
Udinese, on the other hand, sit comfortably in 9th place after an impressive first half of the season. The Friulani come into this match on the back of a 2-2 draw with Torino, extending their recent good form to just one loss in their last four league outings. Their away performances have been particularly strong, with back-to-back 2-1 victories in their last two road trips.
Recent meetings between these sides at the Bentegodi have favored the hosts, with Verona keeping clean sheets in four of the last five encounters. Last season’s fixture saw a dramatic 1-0 win for Hellas, courtesy of a stoppage-time goal from Diego Coppola.
This match presents an intriguing tactical contrast. Verona, under Paolo Zanetti, will likely adopt a cautious approach, looking to exploit counter-attacking opportunities while shoring up a defense that has struggled to keep clean sheets. Udinese, guided by Kosta Runjaic, will aim to control possession and utilize their aerial prowess, which has been a significant weapon this season.
For Verona, Casper Tengstedt will be the one to watch. The Benfica loanee is the team’s top scorer with six Serie A goals and will be crucial to their attacking efforts. Udinese will look to Lorenzo Lucca to continue his fine form, with the striker just one goal away from equaling his tally for the entire previous season.
Team News
Verona will be without Martin Frese, Juan Cruz, and Abdou Harroui due to injuries. Captain Darko Lazovic is expected to start despite being substituted last week due to illness. The in-form attacking duo of Amin Sarr and Casper Tengstedt, who have been crucial to Verona’s recent resurgence, are likely to lead the line once again.
Udinese continues to deal with several absences, including Oier Zarraga, Keinan Davis, Lautaro Giannetti, and first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. However, defender Thomas Kristensen has recovered from a virus and is available for selection. Lorenzo Lucca, who has found his scoring touch with three goals in his last four appearances, is expected to spearhead the attack alongside Florian Thauvin.
Expected Starting XIs
Verona: Montipo; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Ghilardi; Tchatchoua, Duda, Serdar, Lazovic; Suslov; Sarr, Tengstedt
Udinese: Sava; Kristensen, Bijol, Toure; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, Zemura; Thauvin, Lucca
Match Prediction
Given Verona’s struggles at home and Udinese’s recent away form, this match could go either way. However, Udinese’s more balanced squad and attacking threats give them a slight edge. A 2-1 victory for the visitors seems likely, continuing Verona’s win-or-bust pattern at the Bentegodi this season.
Prediction: Verona 1-2 Udinese
