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

Venezia welcome Hellas Verona to the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium for their Serie A encounter on Sunday afternoon.

The last time that these two clubs met was back in the 2001-02 season, with Verona winning both top-flight fixtures by a 1-0 scoreline.

Match preview

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After claiming seven points from three league games between October and mid-November, Venezia have since suffered unsurprising defeats against Scudetto holders Inter Milan and Champions League hopefuls Atalanta.

A 2-0 loss at home to the Nerazzurri was followed three days later by a heavy 4-0 defeat away in Bergamo, which saw Mario Pasalic score a hat-trick for the hosts.

Successive Serie A defeats have seen Gli Arancioneroverdi slip down to 16th in the table, five points above the relegation zone as well as five points behind Sunday's opponents Hellas Verona in the top 10.

Venezia head coach Paolo Zanetti will be keen to see his side improve in the final third, as they have only found the net 12 times in 15 league games so far this season; only basement club Salernitana have scored fewer.

With challenging encounters against Juventus, Lazio and AC Milan over the Christmas period, securing all three points against Verona could be crucial for Venezia if they are to stay clear of the drop zone.

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Hellas Verona were unable to claim their sixth successive home victory against Cagliari on Tuesday, but they did at least extend their unbeaten run at the Marcantonio Bentegodi to seven games with a goalless draw.

Despite dominating the match with 70% possession, the Gialloblu failed to break down a resilient Cagliari backline and were forced to share the spoils for the fifth time this campaign.

That result means Verona have won, drawn and lost five games each from their 15 Serie A fixtures this season and are currently sitting 10th in the table, four points behind the European places.

Verona have enjoyed a decent spell of form in the Italian top flight, losing only two of their last 12 league matches. However, Igor Tudor's men head into the Christmas period with a poor record in December, winning only two of their last 17 Serie A games in the final month of the year.

The Gialloblu's away form will also be a concern for Tudor, as they are one of only two sides, along with Cagliari, who are yet to win on the road this season – drawing four and losing three. Over the last 20 years, only once – in 2015-16 – have Verona failed to win a single game away from home after eight top-flight fixtures.

Verona have at least been able to score in each of their last six away games, so Tudor will be hoping that his side can cause more problems in the final third, but also shore up at the back to ensure that they can finally come away with three points on the road this weekend.

Team News

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Venezia will be without Antonio Vacca (heel), Tyronne Ebuehi (back) and Luca Fiordilino (hernia) due to injury.

Striker David Okereke missed the defeat to Atalanta with a muscle problem and will be assessed ahead of kickoff this weekend to see if he can feature.

The Nigerian's potential absence would likely see Thomas Henry and Dennis Johnsen lead the line in attack for the second successive game.

Chelsea loanee Ethan Ampadu, Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann could all retain their places in centre-midfield, while Mattia Caldara and Pietro Ceccaroni are set to partner one another at centre-back.

As for Verona, they will be without Nikola Kalinic and Gianluca Frabotta, who are suffering with respective calf and hamstring injuries, while Martin Hongla remains in self-isolation after contracting coronavirus.

Tudor is unlikely to make too many changes to his starting lineup, though centre-midfielder Adrien Tameze will be hoping that he can force his way into the first XI ahead of Ivan Ilic.

Attacking trio Antonin Barak, Gianluca Caprari and Giovanni Simeone are all expected to keep their places in the first XI, with the latter hoping to add to his nine league goals this campaign.

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Romero; Mazzocchi, Caldara, Ceccaroni, Haps; Tessmann, Busio, Ampadu; Kiyine; Johnsen, Henry

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:

Montipo; Dawidowicz, Gunter, Ceccherini; Faraoni, Tameze, Veloso, Lazovic; Barak, Caprari; Simeone

We say: Venezia 0-2 Hellas Verona

Hellas Verona will arguably view Sunday's fixture against Venezia as their best chance of claiming their first three points away from home this season.

With the hosts struggling to score goals of late, we can see the visitors finally breaking their duck on the road and securing a routine win at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium.