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Hellas Verona logo
Serie A | Gameweek 20
Jan 13, 2024 at 5pm UK
Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi
Empoli logo

Hellas Verona
2 - 1
Empoli

Djuric (3'), Ngonge (56')
Duda (68'), Coppola (77'), Tchatchoua (82')
Duda (87')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Zurkowski (64')
Zurkowski (58'), Cambiaghi (78'), Cancellieri (90')

Preview: Hellas Verona vs. Empoli - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Serie A clash between Hellas Verona and Empoli, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

The second half of the Serie A season begins with relegation-threatened Hellas Verona and Empoli battling in gameweek 20 at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on Saturday.

Both sides, unsurprisingly out of form, are separated by a point in the standings, further adding to the importance of this weekend's result.


Match preview

Hellas Verona's Thomas Henry celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on January 6, 2024© Reuters

Hellas Verona picked up a win over Cagliari in their penultimate game before Christmas but have not built on that result, underscored by back-to-back defeats against bottom-placed Salernitana and Inter Milan.

While they were inferior to the Salerno outfit in their final game of 2023 and were fortunate to lose 1-0 despite conceding several chances, Marco Baroni's men suffered misfortune against the league leaders.

Two incidents went against the Mastiffs — Alessandro Bastoni could have been penalised in the build-up to Inter's eventual winning goal in minute 93, and Thomas Henry missed a last-gasp penalty to level at the death — keeping Verona in the bottom three.

Baroni's men were disappointing in their previous game at the Bentegodi, a defeat that saw the Veneto-based outfit fail to extend their undefeated home run to four.

The failure to score enough in front of their fans (nine goals in as many games) means another close game could be in the offing on Saturday, with the outcome uncertain.

Empoli's Youssef Malehin action on January 7, 2024© Reuters

Empoli may have the worst home record in Serie A, securing five points from a possible 30, but the Azzurri fare slightly better on their travels, underscored by two victories and two ties in nine road matches.

While the team's hugest victory this term came against Napoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the Florence outfit have not recorded a win since that November 12 success in Naples.

Last weekend's 3-0 defeat against AC Milan extended the Blues' winless run to seven games, and it remains to be seen if the tide is turned at the Bentegodi.

Aurelio Andreazzoli's men must find their scoring boots to avoid eventual relegation, with five home goals and as many on their travels making the second-bottom side the division's lowest scorers (10 goals).

That statistic does not bode well for the visitors, who could be overtaken by Salernitana this weekend if Filippo Inzaghi's men shock Napoli at the Maradona.

Hellas Verona Serie A form:

Empoli Serie A form:


Team News

Hellas Verona players pose for a team group photo before the match on October 21, 2023© Reuters

An enraged Darko Lazovic was dismissed after Inter's second goal last weekend, ruling out the Verona midfielder for Saturday's game.

Pawel Dawidowicz's muscle injury could keep him out until the end of January.

The away side have several injury problems, with Jacopo Fazzini (eye) and Tyronne Ebuehi (muscle) absent until late January, while Simone Bastoni (thigh) is not expected to return until next month.

Furthermore, Gabriele Guarino (muscle) is doubtful, and no timescale has been put on Giuseppe Pezzella's return from a back injury.


Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Tchatchoua, Coppola, Magnani, Doig; Duda, Suslov, Folorunsho; Mboula, Djuric, Ngonge

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto, Cacace; Marin, Grassi, Maleh; Baldanzi; Caputo, Cambiaghi


SM words green background

We say: Hellas Verona 1-1 Empoli

Three of the last four meetings between these clubs have ended 1-1, and another low-scoring draw could be on the cards at the Bentegodi on Saturday.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Hellas Verona vs Empoli

Hellas Verona
31.0%
Draw
53.4%
Empoli
15.5%
58
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli118121881025
2Inter Milan1173125131224
3Atalanta BCAtalanta1171329141522
4Fiorentina116412291322
5Lazio1171324141022
6Juventus115601971221
7AC Milan105231711617
8Udinese115151416-216
9Bologna103611211115
10Torino114251516-114
11Empoli1135389-114
12Roma113441214-213
13Hellas VeronaHellas Verona114071624-812
14Como122461323-1010
15Genoa12246922-1310
16CagliariCagliari11236919-109
17Parma111641417-39
18Monza111551014-48
19VeneziaVenezia112271019-98
20Lecce11227420-168


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