Hellas Verona and Lazio are set to clash on Sunday at Stadio Bentegodi after both teams featured in thrilling four-goal draws in their midweek fixtures.
Match Preview: Hellas Verona vs Lazio
Verona faced Napoli and narrowly missed claiming their first league victory in Naples since 1983. They held a two-goal lead but ultimately settled for a 2-2 draw at Stadio Maradona. Martin Frese and Gift Orban scored for Hellas Verona, but the defending champions managed to equalize late in the match.
Following this result, Verona remains three points from safety after Genoa’s surprising draw against AC Milan. Head coach Paolo Zanetti aims to leverage their performance against Napoli to boost morale at home, where they have only won once in their last nine competitive matches.
Historical Context
However, Verona’s recent history against Lazio is concerning. They have not won any of their last eight Serie A encounters, conceding 17 goals and scoring just six. Their last meeting ended with a 4-0 defeat for Verona at Stadio Olimpico last August.
Lazio’s Performance
Lazio currently find themselves in ninth place in the Serie A standings. The team is battling inconsistency and has gone four matches without a win, leaving them trailing in the race for European qualification.
In their latest match against Fiorentina, Lazio drew 2-2, salvaging a point thanks to a late strike from Pedro. This result added to their disappointing total of 25 points at this season’s midpoint.
Team News and Lineups
Hellas Verona
- Rafik Belghali is absent due to international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
- Injuries affect Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro and Tomas Suslov.
- Amine Sarr’s involvement is uncertain after limited playtime, alongside Daniel Mosquera and Giovane, who may return to the starting lineup.
Lazio
- Zaccagni is suspended, while Noslin and Marusic return from bans.
- Injuries include Patric and Samuel Gigot, while Toma Basic may also be absent.
- New arrival Kenneth Taylor will replace Matteo Guendouzi, with potential debutant Petar Ratkov joining the squad.
Predictions
Given the teams’ forms and injuries, this match is set to be tightly contested. Both teams will be looking to secure valuable points, with Verona hoping to build on their recent performance and Lazio striving to recover their form.
Our prediction: Hellas Verona 1-1 Lazio.
