Verona-Bologna is a friendly and will be played on Thursday at 14:30: news, statistics, formations, predictions, live TV and streaming
It could be described as a Serie A appetiser on Thursday afternoon at the ‘Bentegodi’ between hosts Verona and Bologna, two teams who share the common goal of salvation.
Scaligeri and Felsinei have in fact already played each other this season (and will do so again next April, in the second leg): on 21 August, the second day of the championship, at the ‘Dall’Ara’ they shared the prize (1-1), a match in which both centre-forwards, Henry and Arnautovic, scored. On the red and blue bench at the time was still the late Sinisa Mihajlovic, whose untimely death in Rome on Saturday left the entire football world stunned. The Serbian coach was reportedly relieved of his duties after a few days, replaced by Thiago Motta.
Verona start again with newcomer Zaffaroni
After a settling-in phase, the Italo-Brazilian coach – fresh from an excellent experience at La Spezia – seems to have succeeded in getting Bologna off the ground, who have won four of their last five official matches, reaching eleventh place and therefore a quiet position in the middle of the table, paired on 19 points with Fiorentina.
Zaffaroni at the time of Cosenza
The most evident improvements have been seen in the ball possession phase, where it is no longer just Arnautovic, the team’s top scorer with eight goals, who is pulling the strings. The situation is much more critical at home to Verona, last in the standings with five points from 15 games, and fresh from ten consecutive defeats, a record streak. During the break, the club decided to place former Chievo and Cosenza coach Marco Zaffaroni, making his debut in the top division, alongside the young coach Bocchetti, who does not have a Uefa Pro licence. Verona recently drew 0-0 with Croatia’s Istra in a friendly, while Bologna beat Mallorca 2-1 last week.
The prediction
Bologna’s success seems likely in a match where the total number of goals could be less than four.
Verona v Bologna likely line-up
- VERONA (3-4-2-1): Montipò; Gunter, Magnani, Cabal; Faraoni, Tameze, Veloso, Depaoli; Verdi, Kallon; Henry.
- BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Bardi; Posch, Soumaoro, Lucumì, Cambiaso; Medel, Schouten; Barrow, Ferguson, Orsolini; Arnautovic.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-2
