Hellas Verona is currently in a precarious position in Serie A as they prepare to face Napoli this Saturday at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium. The match marks an essential fixture for both teams as the home side aims to avoid relegation, while the visitors look to reclaim their status as title contenders.
Match Preview: Hellas Verona vs Napoli
As it stands, Hellas Verona finds itself at the bottom of the league table, trailing nine points from safety. Their recent performance has been disappointing, particularly following a heavy 3-0 loss to Sassuolo. In the last eight matches, Verona has managed only two points, achieving goalless draws against fellow struggling teams, Cremonese and Pisa. This dismal form led to the dismissal of former coach Paolo Zanetti.
Hellas Verona Team Updates
Verona heads into this match with significant challenges. Defensive midfielder Al Musrati and forward Gift Orban are both suspended. Additionally, several players are injured, creating a deeper crisis for the squad.
- Unavailable Players:
- Pol Lirola (Injured)
- Serdar (Injured)
- Al Musrati (Suspended)
- Gift Orban (Suspended)
- Questionable Players:
- Valentini (Injured)
- Lovric (Injured)
- Bernede (Injured)
- Gagliardini (Injured)
- Belghali (Injured)
The projected lineup for Hellas Verona is a 3-4-1-2 formation, featuring Montipo in goal and a defensive trio comprising Bella-Kotchap, Nelsson, and Edmundsson.
Napoli’s Current Situation
Napoli, the reigning champions, sit in third place but have struggled to maintain form this season. They are currently 14 points behind league leaders Internazionale. The team suffered a slight setback last week, losing 2-1 to Atalanta, marking their third victory in the last 12 games across all competitions.
- Unavailable Players:
- Rrahmani (Injured)
- Di Lorenzo (Injured)
- Kevin De Bruyne (Injured)
- David Neres (Injured)
- Questionable Players:
- Scott McTominay (Injured)
- Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Injured)
The expected lineup for Napoli follows a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Meret in goal and notable players like Lobotka and Elmas in central midfield.
Match Prediction
Historically, recent encounters have shown Verona could challenge Napoli, as evidenced by their prior 2-2 draw earlier this season. However, assessing the current form and conditions, Napoli remains the favorite for this matchup. While a victory is expected for Napoli, the match may not showcase a high-scoring affair, with an emphasis on defensive play likely limiting the overall goals.
The prediction steers towards Napoli securing a win, with the outcome likely being under 3.5 goals.
