Top-four hopefuls Roma head to Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi to face a relegated Hellas Verona in a must-win Serie A fixture. While the outcome of this game won’t change anything for the hosts, it could make all the difference in a tightly contested race for Champions League qualification.
It has been a disastrous season for Verona, with the home side set to finish the season with the second-lowest point tally in a three-point-per-win era. Indeed, Paolo Sammarco’s charges have amassed just 21 points this term, largely thanks to a dreadful run of just one win since Christmas (D6, L15).
However, the Gialloblu refused to go down with a whimper, finding a last-gasp equalizer in a heroic 1-1 draw at newly crowned champions Inter last weekend. Furthermore, they also shared the spoils with Roma’s top-four rivals, Juventus, a fortnight ago, showing they still have some gas left in the tank.
Roma must be careful not to fall victim to Verona’s late-season surge here, as they need a victory to secure their first top-four finish since the 2017/18 season. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men head into proceedings in high spirits after a morale-boosting 2-0 derby win over Lazio last weekend saw them leapfrog the Bianconeri to fourth in the standings.
Now sitting two points clear of Como and Juventus, the Giallorossi have their destiny firmly in their own hands. Still, that doesn’t mean they can afford to underestimate the challenge ahead.
Match Preview
Hellas Verona
Draws have become a recurring theme for Verona down the final stretch, with three of their last four league matches ending all square (L1). Unfortunately, those stalemates form part of a more ominous-looking nine-game winless streak in Serie A (D3, L6), during which they failed to score on six occasions.
A lack of firepower has often come to the fore at the Bentegodi, where Sammarco’s men haven’t scored since the beginning of March. Indeed, they’re currently on a five-game scoreless run at home and could make it six matches in a row for the first time in club history.
Roma’s visit paints an even bleaker picture for the already-doomed Gialloblu, given that they’ve lost their last two Serie A meetings without scoring. Notoriously slow out of the blocks, Verona have failed to break the deadlock in each of their last eight home outings, suggesting they could start on the back foot once again.
Roma
Verona’s home wobble must be music to Gasperini’s ears, with his high-flying Roma side bidding to end the season on a strong note. The traveling fans won’t expect anything less after the Giallorossi strung together four consecutive league victories, three of which came by multi-goal margins.
Buoyed by their longest winning streak in Serie A since 2024/25, Roma will be out to complete their highest points tally since 2017/18, when they last qualified for the Champions League. Expectations are reasonably sky-high, but the visitors must avoid complacency if they’re to get the job done on Sunday.
Despite beating Bologna and Parma on their last two Serie A road trips, a disheartening seven-game winless away run beforehand should serve as a stark reminder that nothing can be taken for granted (D3, L4). Adding to this sentiment, they have suffered four defeats on their last five visits to the Bentegodi (W1).
Team News
In addition to long-term absentee Suat Serdar, Verona will be missing veteran midfielder Roberto Gagliardini, who must serve a one-game suspension after accumulating yellow cards. Meanwhile, Daniel Mosquera may have to sit this clash out due to a minor knee injury, while Gift Orban remains out of the squad after a bizarre bust-up with a fan last month.
On the other hand, Roma will be without starting center-back Evan Ndicka and Brighton & Hove loanee Evan Ferguson. Moreover, star wingback Wesley Franca is unavailable for selection after picking up a red card in last weekend’s Derby della Madonnina, with Kostas Tsimikas expected to take his place on the left flank.
Hellas Verona vs Roma Potential Starting Lineups
Hellas Verona (5-3-2): Montipo; Belghali, Nelsson, Edmundsson, Valentini, Frese; Lovric, Bernede, Akpa Akpro; Suslov, Bowie.
Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Hermoso, Mancini, Celik; Tsimikas, El Aynaoui, Cristante, Rensch; Dybala, Pisilli; Malen.
Hellas Verona vs Roma Prediction
Roma have hit a purple patch at the perfect time, and there’s little Verona can do to knock them down off their perch. Firing on all cylinders, the visitors have scored multiple goals in six of their last seven matches, setting themselves up perfectly for this high-stakes fixture.
Prediction: Roma to Win
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The post Serie A Preview: Hellas Verona vs Roma – Team News, Lineups & Prediction appeared first on The Cult of Calcio.
