Both 3-0 winners on Serie A's opening matchday, Hellas Verona and Juventus aim to continue in the same vein on Monday, when they meet at Stadio Bentegodi.
After Verona stunned Napoli with a superb second-half display, new-look Juve crushed newly-promoted Como in their first game under Thiago Motta.
Match preview
© Imago
Making the most of a relatively kind start to the fixture list, Juventus came flying out of the blocks last weekend, as they began their latest quest to regain the Scudetto in convincing style.
Surprise debutant Samuel Mbangula fired the Bianconeri in front against Como, before Timothy Weah added a second goal just before the break, and Andrea Cambiaso's stoppage-time strike served as the cherry on top of the icing for new boss Thiago Motta.
Still busy in the transfer market as Juve's post-Max Allegri overhaul continues, the Turin side showed early signs of improvement, recording the highest passing accuracy on Serie A's opening matchday (92%) and being the only team not to face a single shot on target.
Motta was hired to bring both proactive football and some silverware back to Italy's most successful club, after his Bologna team surprisingly secured Champions League qualification by keeping a number of clean sheets.
His new-look squad may have impressed on opening night, but Juve must surely set about fixing a dismal away record if they are to challenge for the title: they have failed to win any of their last eight league games on the road, which is the club's worst such run since 1999.
They have, though, won four of their last five against Hellas Verona, keeping a clean sheet in each victory - and Motta's men will be fired up to continue that trend.
© Reuters
Nonetheless, Hellas have lost only one of their last 10 Serie A meetings with Juve at the Bentegodi, where they enjoyed a brilliant beginning to the 2024-25 season.
Having previously exited the Coppa Italia on home turf to Cesena, Verona's clash with Antonio Conte-led Napoli held some trepidation, but after keeping the game goalless until half time they burst into life after the break.
Continuing a good recent record in the transfer market, Dailon Livramento and Daniel Mosquera both scored on their league debut, with the latter bagging a brace to send the Partenopei packing.
After taking over from Lazio-bound Marco Baroni earlier this summer, Paolo Zanetti is overseeing the Scaligeri's attempt to secure a sixth straight year in the top flight, and such a result will help win over sceptical fans.
Including the tail end of last season, Verona are now unbeaten in three matches - equalling their best run since April 2023 - but they will be truly put to the test on Monday evening.
- W
- L
- W
- W
Team News
© Imago
After both started last week's win over Como, Timothy Weah and Khephren Thuram succumbed to injuries and will not be involved in Verona, while Arkadiusz Milik is still sidelined by a knee problem.
In any case, the latter is part of a group expected to leave Juventus before the transfer window slides shut, alongside Tiago Djalo, Filip Kostic, Arthur and Federico Chiesa.
Thuram's fellow new boys Douglas Luiz, Michele Di Gregorio and ex-Verona full-back Juan Cabal should all start on Monday, but more recent arrivals Nico Gonzalez and Francisco Conceicao will not be available.
Following his debut goal against Como, youth graduate Samuel Mbangula could become the first player to score in both of his first two league appearances for Juve since Carlos Tevez in August 2013.
Meanwhile, Verona must make at least one change to a winning side, as Suat Serdar suffered a thigh injury last week - French midfielder Reda Belahyane is his likeliest replacement.
Paolo Zanetti may also decide to switch things around up front, after Daniel Mosquera scored twice as a substitute; Benfica loanee Casper Tengstedt could therefore make way.
Another forward, long-term absentee Juan Manuel Cruz, is the only other man missing for the hosts.
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Tchatchoua, Coppola, Dawidowicz, Frese; Belahyane, Duda; Livramento, Kastanos, Lazovic; Mosquera
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Savona, Gatti, Bremer, Cabal; Locatelli, Luiz; Cambiaso, Yildiz, Mbangoula; Vlahovic
We say: Hellas Verona 0-2 Juventus
There is early evidence that Juventus will be more coherent under Thiago Motta, so they should prove a much tougher nut to crack than Verona's opening opponents, an ailing Napoli side.
Juve look revived, so with Dusan Vlahovic up front and plenty of pace out wide, they can exploit any weaknesses in the hosts' defence.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
