Having pulled clear of the Serie A drop zone by winning last weekend, Hellas Verona hope to start 2025 in similar style as they host Udinese on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Friulani head for Stadio Bentegodi occupying a top-half spot in the standings, and they will aim to cap off an impressive first half of the season.
Match preview
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Taking full advantage of their hosts going down to 10 men, Verona upset the odds to defeat in-form Bologna at Stadio Dall'Ara in their final fixture of 2024.
Forward pair Amin Sarr and Casper Tengstedt both struck during the first half, but the Rossoblu fought back to set up a dramatic finale; ultimately, an own goal secured victory for Verona in the 88th minute, sparking wild celebrations.
Paolo Zanetti's side therefore entered the new year sitting 16th in the table, with 18 points from as many matches - four clear of the relegation zone.
However, the Gialloblu come into Saturday's contest having lost their last three home fixtures, scoring only once and conceding 10 times in the process.
Either home or away, Hellas have failed to keep a single clean sheet in any of their last 15 league games, and they unsurprisingly hold the Italian top flight's worst defensive record.
They have, though, shut out Udinese in four of the clubs' last five meetings at Stadio Bentegodi, including a 1-0 win last term, when Diego Coppola scored the only goal deep into second-half stoppage time.
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While history may not be on their side this weekend, Udinese can certainly take some improving form into their year-opening fixture.
Last week, an eventful 2-2 home draw with Torino could quite easily have ended in victory, but after Lorenzo Lucca scored their second with a trademark header, the Friulani conceded twice to drop two precious points.
Udinese have now scored eight headed goals in Serie A this season, fewer only than Atalanta BC across Europe's top five leagues; in percentage terms (35%), only Getafe (36%) have produced more so far.
Despite missing out on a fifth home win, that point left them ninth in the standings, approaching the midpoint of a promising campaign.
Having narrowly survived the drop to Serie B last season, Udinese started brightly this term, while recent results have helped them regain some lost momentum: Kosta Runjaic's side have lost only one of their last four league matches, after claiming just a point from the previous five.
The Bianconeri have won both of their last two away games in Serie A by the same 2-1 scoreline, versus Monza and Fiorentina. Curiously, the last time they posted three on the spin was back in October 2022 - the first coming against Monza and the third against none other than Verona.
Team News
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Once again, Verona will be missing Martin Frese, plus long-term absentees Juan Cruz and Abdou Harroui, but captain Darko Lazovic is available despite being withdrawn during last week's win in Bologna.
Hellas coach Paolo Zanetti has suggested his skipper was substituted due to illness, so the long-serving winger should be ready to start on Saturday.
Up front, Amin Sarr and Benfica loanee Casper Tengstedt could join forces again - the latter is Verona's top scorer with six Serie A goals this season.
Meanwhile, Udinese's main marksman Lorenzo Lucca has scored three in his last four league appearances - as many as throughout the previous 12. With just one more strike, the Italy international would equal his total from the whole 2023-24 campaign.
Oier Zarraga, Keinan Davis, Lautaro Giannetti and first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye are still absent for the Bianconeri, but Danish defender Thomas Kristensen has overcome a virus, and Kosta Runjaic still has several options to choose from in attack.
Veteran striker Alexis Sanchez recently returned to action, while Brenner and Iker Bravo are also lining up behind the current pairing of Lucca and Florian Thauvin.
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Ghilardi; Tchatchoua, Duda, Serdar, Lazovic; Suslov; Sarr, Tengstedt
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Sava; Kristensen, Bijol, Toure; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, Zemura; Thauvin, Lucca
We say: Hellas Verona 1-2 Udinese
It has been win or bust at the Bentegodi this season, as Verona have suffered seven losses and posted three wins so far.
That pattern could continue against Udinese, who are a well-organised side posing plenty of threat up front.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
