Hellas Verona and Sassuolo are separated by six spots in the Serie A table before round 29's encounter at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on Saturday.
The relegation-threatened Mastiffs' winless run extended to six in the league after last weekend's defeat by Juventus, and the Neroverdi are unbeaten in five after Monday's draw with Torino.
Match preview
© Reuters
Marco Zaffaroni's team were not expected to shock the Old Lady in round 28, and they were beaten 1-0 by Massimiliano Allegri's men.
Fortunately, Spezia — the side just above Verona in the table — could only draw with Salernitana, thus leaving them six points adrift in the battle for survival.
It is concerning for the Mastiffs that they are not doing enough to leave the relegation scrap due to the form of the sides above them — Spezia have won one in five, 16th-placed Lecce have been beaten in five successive games, and Salernitana have picked up one win in their last five, playing out four stalemates.
Verona have picked up two points from an available 15 in that time, a return far from good enough to escape the bottom three.
They return to the Bentegodi this weekend, where they have lost only one in five, looking to return to winning ways at a ground where they have secured 14 of their 19 points in Serie A.
© Reuters
To get that result, Zaffaroni's team must end Sassuolo's ongoing unbeaten run in which 13 points have been accrued from the last 15.
Last week's draw with Torino was foreseen, owing to the precedent in that fixture, but the Neroverdi will back themselves to continue their unbeaten league run.
Alessio Dionisi's men could move as high as eighth this weekend if they win and results elsewhere go their way, but that may be improbable due to eighth-placed Fiorentina's sterling form.
Be that as it may, returning to winning ways to end the round as high as possible is the 12th-placed club's priority.
Having secured 11 points from their last five matches on the road, Dionisi should be confident before Saturday's encounter.
The reverse fixture in Reggio Emilia was won 2-1 by Sassuolo thanks to a turnaround that saw Armand Lauriente and Davide Frattesi inspire the comeback after Federico Ceccherini's second-minute opener.
Team News
© Reuters
Zaffaroni has several absentees, either through injuries or suspension, with Thomas Henry (ligament rupture), Darko Lazovic (muscle), Diego Coppola (ligament injury), Ajdin Hrustic (ankle) and Milan Duric (knee) all out.
Fabio Depaoli is missing this weekend through suspension after picking up a yellow card against Juventus.
Sassuolo welcomed back Ruan from suspension last time out, and the centre-back should continue in the side on Saturday.
Domenico Berardi was replaced with 13 minutes remaining, so it remains to be seen if the injury that forced him out on Monday is severe enough to keep him out at the Bentegodi.
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Dawidowicz, Magnani, Ceccherini; Faraoni, Tameze, Veloso, Doig; Duda; Lasagna, Gaich
Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Consigli; Toljan, Luan, Ferrari, Rogerio; Fratessi, Lopez. Henrique; Bajrami, Pinamonti, Lauriente
We say: Hellas Verona 2-2 Sassuolo
Verona have netted in all but one of their last six games at the Bentegodi, while Sassuolo have scored at least two goals or more in three of their last five road encounters, going unbeaten in that time.
This could be a high-scoring score draw between the Mastiffs and the Neroverdi.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
