Overview
After a 0-1 defeat to Lazio, Verona has only won a meager point after the first 3 matches of the new year, thereby falling into an extremely dangerous situation in the relegation race.
Only newcomer Pisa is the only team with a meager number of points equivalent to the team in crisis of coach Paolo Zanetti. Verona is currently 4 points behind the safe group after halfway through the season.
Having just won exactly one victory in 11 appearances at the Bentegodi stadium this season, the home team is forced to quickly turn the tide if they still want to hold on to hopes of staying in Serie A.
Throughout the club's history, Hellas Verona has only had one worse home record in this period of the season. That was the 2015-2016 season - the campaign ended with a relegation ticket.
When the coaching chair is shaking violently, Zanetti clearly needs to soon solve the problems in both lines. Verona has conceded at least one goal in 8 consecutive Serie A matches recently, and has been goalless in 3 of the last 4 rounds.
After a 2-1 victory in their last trip to Bentegodi in March, Bologna has won three of their last four encounters with Verona in all competitions.
This time, Rossoblu coach Vincenzo Italiano returns to his old home in the context that his team is very eager for a victory, as their form has plummeted since the beginning of December.
Bologna has gone through 7 consecutive matches without knowing the taste of victory in Serie A. This is their worst streak in the past 5 years and they are falling behind in the race to win tickets to the European Cup.
Falling to ninth place in the standings, Italiano's team has only won 3 points in this period of decline. Including one point from the away match at Como Stadium in the previous round.
In that match, Nicolo Cambiaghi became a character with two faces of the away team. He scored the opening goal but was then sent off, thereby opening a turning point that made Como equalize with a super product in the final minutes.
Therefore, before welcoming Celtic in the Europa League, Bologna is highly determined to defeat the struggling opponent in Serie A. After the away match to Verona, Rossoblu will continue to face Fiorentina in the Derby dell'Appennino.
Personnel situation
Verona still does not have the service of two key players due to injury, Tomas Suslov and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro. However, Rafik Belghali has returned after the African Cup and is likely to be included in the starting lineup.
In attack, Gift Orban, Daniel Mosquera, Amine Sarr and promising young striker Giovane will continue to compete fiercely for two starting spots.
Making a strong impression right in his first season playing in Serie A, this player has directly participated in 7 goals since the beginning of the season, including 6 goals scored at home.
In the opposite direction, Bologna's decline in form is partly reflected in the performance of star Riccardo Orsolini. The Italian winger has only scored one goal in his last 11 appearances in Serie A, completely opposite to the efficiency of 8 goals in the previous 11 matches.
In the context of Thijs Dallinga and Santiago Castro competing for Rossoblu's number one center position, striker Ciro Immobile, once considered a backup option, is particularly lucky with Verona. He has scored 10 goals in 14 encounters, including 7 goals right at Bentegodi.
In terms of force, the away team will be without the services of Jhon Lucumi and Federico Bernardeschi due to injuries, while Nicolo Cambiaghi must serve a suspension after a red card due to lack of control in the previous round.
Expected lineup:
Hellas Verona: Montipo, Nelsson, Bella-Kotchap, Valentini, Belghali, Niasse, Gagliardini, Bernede, Frese, Giovane, Orban.
Ravaglia, Holm, Heggem, Vitik, Miranda, Moro, Ferguson, Orsolini, Odgaard, Rowe, Dallinga.
The match between Verona and Bologna takes place at 0:30 AM on January 16 (Vietnam time).
