Verona-Salernitana is a Serie A Week 22 match played on Monday at 18:30: odds, predictions, TV and streaming
A month ago, as far as the salvation fight was concerned, everything seemed decided. Not anymore. And it’s mainly thanks to a combative Verona, reborn after the autumn break for the world championships and not yet willing to raise the white flag.
While Cremonese and Sampdoria are sinking further and further to the bottom of the table, the Scaligeri have turned the tide, regaining some certainty with the arrival of Marco Zaffaroni on the bench – who has joined Bocchetti, still without a licence – and now they are back to believing in staying in Serie A. Spezia, the team closest to the Gialloblù at the moment, did not go beyond a draw with Empoli last Saturday and Verona have a great opportunity to further shorten the gap on fourth-last place, moving to -2 from the Ligurians in the event of a victory in the salvation play-off against Salernitana. Yes, because that is exactly what this is all about, as the Campania side have 21 points and could still be sucked into the relegation tussle. Encouraging signs also arrived in the last challenge against Lazio, who were stopped 1-1 at the ‘Bentegodi’. It was the third consecutive useful result for Zaffaroni’s men, who in 2023 had only surrendered to Inter at the San Siro, moreover by a narrow margin.
With Zaffaroni it’s a different Verona
The former Cosenza coach has significantly improved the defensive phase: his Verona side have conceded just four goals in the last six matches. Numbers from Napoli
Nicola
A completely different story for Salernitana, who have just surrendered 3-0 to Juventus in the post-match match at the Arechi, suffering their fourth defeat of the new year. The Granata have failed to pick up a single point against any of the big teams they have faced since Serie A resumed (AC Milan, Atalanta, Napoli, Juventus), with the only useful results coming against Torino (1-1) and Lecce (1-2). In contrast to their next opponents, Davide Nicola’s men’s defence continues to falter, despite the tactical changes: with 41 goals conceded, Salernitana’s rearguard is the worst beaten in the league.
Verona v Salernitana: latest line-up news
Verona are sure to confirm striker Ngonge, one of the signings of the winter market, the absolute protagonist of the challenge against Lazio, in which he also managed to find the way of goal. It will be up to him and Lazovic to support the only striker Lasagna. Djuric is absent due to injury. In the middle there will also be space for the other new face, former Cologne man Duda. Dawidowicz and Faraoni are in doubt, while Henry, Veloso and Hrustic will be absent.
Nicola without Fazio, Mazzocchi and Maggiore, but struggling with several doubts. In attack it’s a duel between Piatek and Bonazzoli, in midfield Bohinen and Nicolussi Caviglia are competing for a shirt. In defence, on the right, Lovato and Sambia will challenge the Tunisian Bronn.
The prediction
The current standings say Salernitana – the Campania side are seven points up – but the Gialloblù’s excellent moment of form cannot be underestimated, as they have a great opportunity to definitively reopen the race for safety. And that they are unlikely to let slip away. A positive result for Verona is conceivable, within a match that should see both teams score. Watch out for the number of cards: this is in fact a salvation clash and the match could flare up at any moment, also considering the old rumblings between the two fans.
Verona v Salernitana likely line-up
- VERONA (3-4-2-1): Montipò; Dawidowicz, Hien, Magnani; Depaoli, Tameze, Duda, Doig; Ngonge, Lazovic; Lasagna.
- SALERNITANA (4-3-3): Ochoa; Bronn, Troost Ekong, Pirola, Bradaric; Crnigoj, Bohinen, Coulibaly; Candreva, Dia, Bonazzoli.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
