Sports Mole previews Monday’s Serie A clash between Salernitana and Hellas Verona, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Hellas Verona travel to the bottom Salerno on Monday evening, hoping to secure their Serie A status for another season.
The hosts have nothing but pride to play for, having already been mathematically relegated.
Match Preview
©Reuters
Salernitana almost caused a major upset against Juventus last Sunday, but conceded the equalizer in stoppage time to draw 1-1 at the Allianz Stadium.
Nicolas Pierozzi gave the Granata the lead three minutes before half-time and they looked set for all three points until Adrien Rabiot scored for Juventus in the 91st minute.
However, the result did not matter to Stefano ColantuonoOn the team side, since their relegation was confirmed in April, and they are only playing for pride.
Salernitana are 13 points behind 19th-placed Sassuolo heading into matchweek 37, with their last Serie A victory coming in the reverse fixture against Verona in December.
A victory on Monday would see the Granata achieve the double against a top team for only the second time in their history, having achieved the feat against Venice in the 2021-22 season.
However, a draw would be the first in back-to-back matches since August 2023, when they drew against Roma and Udinese.
©Reuters
Verona’s survival hopes were dented last time out, as they surrendered a lead to lose 2-1 to Torino at the Stadio Bentegodi, marking their second defeat in the last three matches.
Since March, the Gialloblu have collected 14 points from a possible 30, which has helped them escape the relegation zone. However, they remain precariously close, with their 34 points from 36 matches leaving them just two points ahead of 18th-placed Empoli.
Verona will hope to continue the trend in their last nine matches, having never repeated the same result during this period.
However, Hellas have not won in their previous two Serie A away matches at Salernitana. If they lose on Monday, it will be the first time they have lost two games in a row since falling to Granata and league champions Inter Milan in back-to-back matches between December and January.
Salernitana Serie A form:
Hellas Verona Serie A form:
Team News
©Reuters
Jules Major and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa are ruled out for Salernitana, with the former recovering from a knee injury and the latter from a muscle problem.
Jerome Boateng And Norbert Gyomber are doubtful, with both players nursing muscular problems, while Iron Gomis And Antonio Candreva experience physical discomfort and might sit out of it.
Verona will have to line up without Thomas Henrias the striker was sent off in stoppage time against Turin and is suspended.
Juan Cruz He is also out with a thigh injury that is expected to keep him out until the end of the month.
Salernitana possible starting composition:
Fiorillo; Pierozzi, Fazio, Pirola; Zanoli, Sambia, Coulibaly, Basic; Vignato, Tchaouna; Ikwuemesi
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Centonze, Coppola, Magnani, Cabale; Dawidowicz, Duda; Noslin, Serdar, Lazovic; Bonazzoli
We say: Salernitana 1-1 Hellas Verona
Verona has traditionally struggled at Salernitana. Their defeat to the hosts earlier this season highlights the difficulties they always face in these encounters. However, we think they could manage to salvage the draw this time around.
For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.
