Hellas Verona will be looking to continue their impressive run of form in Serie A when they welcome Empoli to Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi on Monday.
The home side, who are unbeaten in their last four matches in Italy's top flight, are currently 10th in the table, level on points with 11th-placed Empoli.
Match preview
© Reuters
Verona are in their third straight season at this level of football, finishing ninth and 10th in Italy's top flight since securing a return from Serie B in 2019.
The team's start to the 2021-22 campaign has gone as many would have expected, with a record of 16 points from 12 matches leaving them in 10th position, and they have been an excellent watch this term.
Indeed, only Inter Milan (29) and AC Milan (26) have scored more Serie A goals than Verona (25) this term, and Igor Tudor's side were in impressive form before the international break, picking up eight points from their last four matches.
Indeed, the Yellow and Blues have beaten Lazio and Juventus in their last two home league fixtures, in addition to picking up points away to Udinese and Napoli.
Verona are actually on a four-game winning run in front of their own supporters, overcoming Roma, Spezia, Lazio and Juventus, scoring 13 times in the process, but they are yet to win on their travels this term.
© Reuters
Empoli, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw at home to Genoa before the international break, with Flavio Bianchi striking late for the visitors to secure a share of the spoils at Stadio Carlo Castellani.
The Blues have also been on a strong run of form in the league, losing just one of their last four matches, including away victories over Salernitana and Sassuolo, with their only loss during that run coming at home to Inter.
Aurelio Andreazzoli's side have actually been one of the most impressive teams in Serie A on their travels this term, winning four of their five matches, which is in contrast to their home form, managing just four points from seven games in front of their own fans.
The reigning Serie B champions, who will finish the month with a home game against Fiorentina, recorded a 1-0 victory when these two teams last locked horns in Serie A in April 2016.
- W
- L
- W
- D
- W
- D
- L
- W
- L
- W
- D
- D
Team News
© Reuters
Verona will be without the services of a number of first-team players on Monday, with Gianluca Frabotta, Ivan Ilic and Darko Lazovic on the sidelines through injury.
Meanwhile, the home side will be unable to call upon either Daniel Bessa or Nikola Kalinic through suspension, with both players being sent off against Napoli last time out.
Giovanni Simeone scored his ninth Serie A goal of the campaign in Verona's last match and will again lead the line, while Antonin Barak should also feature in an attacking position.
As for Empoli, head coach Andreazzoli is likely to be able to call upon a full squad for this match.
The majority of the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Genoa before the international break are likely to keep their spots, although it would not be a surprise to see a couple of changes.
Indeed, Petar Stojanovic and Samuele Ricci could both come into the first XI, while Szymon Zurkowski, who scored off the bench against Genoa, might also earn a starting role.
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Dawidowicz, Gunter, Ceccherini; Faraoni, Tameze, Veloso, Casale; Caprari, Simeone, Barak
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Stojanovic, Tonelli, Viti, Marchizza; Zurkowski, Ricci, Bandinelli; Pinamonti, Di Francesco, Henderson
We say: Hellas Verona 2-1 Empoli
Empoli will be pleased with their recent form, but it is difficult to look past Verona considering that they have won each of their last four league games on home soil; we are expecting a tight contest, though, with the winner for the hosts potentially coming late on.
Matt Law
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Hellas Verona win with a probability of 40.1%. A win for Empoli had a probability of 35.45% and a draw had a probability of 24.5%.
The most likely scoreline for a Hellas Verona win was 2-1 with a probability of 8.69%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (7.94%) and 2-0 (6.09%). The likeliest Empoli win was 1-2 (8.09%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.33%). The actual scoreline of 2-1 was predicted with an 8.7% likelihood. Our team at Sports Mole and our data analysis both correctly predicted a 2-1 win for Hellas Verona in this match.
