Hellas Verona vs Como – News and Probable Lineups

Como finds itself in a challenging position in the race for a top-four spot in Serie A, needing a victory during Sunday’s early match against the struggling Hellas Verona.

As the Lariani hold on to their aspirations for Champions League qualification, Verona’s fate has been sealed, facing relegation confirmed at the end of last month.

Match overview

Three consecutive losses in mid-April broke the momentum for Como, who had ambitions for a historic season bolstered by significant investment, though they remain in contention for a top-four place.

The Lombardy side was defeated by Inter de Milão in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, having just previously lost a league encounter 4-3 to the same team, between which they faced a 2-1 defeat against Sassuolo.

While they did recover with a win over Genoa, Como then settled for a draw with Napoli, as Cesc Fabregas encountered his former manager Antonio Conte in a goalless match for the second occasion this season.

This further hindered Como’s aspirations for Champions League participation: they now sit three points behind fourth-placed Juventus with three rounds left, and Roma has overtaken them into fifth place.

As the Champions League dream felt within reach, Cesc’s squad has managed just one victory in their last five league matches, whereas prior to this stretch, they had a five-match winning run.

Nonetheless, there are many positive aspects to focus on ahead of this week’s fixture in Verona, where a win would secure them European football for the upcoming season.

Reflecting their proactive defensive strategy, Como has allowed only 28 goals in Serie A, the lowest in the league; for context, only Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, both Champions League finalists, have conceded fewer in Europe’s top five leagues.

Additionally, the Biancoblu have achieved victories in nearly half of their league matches, which includes a 3-1 win in the reverse fixture played in October.

This marked one of 21 losses Verona has endured thus far, and they are already destined for Serie B.

Having narrowly escaped relegation for most of the last seven seasons, Hellas has finally hit a wall, with interim coach Paolo Sammarco taking the reins as the club faces its descent.

The team has netted just two points from their past seven matches, scoring only twice during that span, albeit both in the last two weeks.

With relegation confirmed and pressure off, Verona followed up a 0-0 draw at home against Lecce with an unanticipated result in Turin last weekend.

Fortunate at various points, the Gialloblu even took a surprising lead thanks to Kieran Bowie, but they could not maintain it for their first Serie A away victory over Juventus.

A 1-1 draw did, however, lift them two points clear of the bottom-placed Pisa, and now their goal is to avoid finishing last later this month.

Team News

As for Como, Jayden Addai is the only casualty on their injury list, and Spanish center-back Jacobo Ramon is also set to miss Sunday’s encounter due to suspension.

It’s likely that Marc-Oliver Kempf will step in as his replacement, with little to no other changes anticipated.

Expected to lead in attack, Tasos Douvikas and Nico Paz are co-leading scorers for Como in the league. With 12 goals each, they trail only Inter’s Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez in the Serie A’s Capocannoniere standings.

Before traveling to Stadio Bentegodi, Paz has netted four goals in seven away fixtures this calendar year; the Argentine forward has also scored five times from long range this season.

Verona’s Suat Serdar, who managed to score in the October match, is now on a lengthy injury list.

Daniel Mosquera has undergone knee surgery, and top scorer Gift Orban is absent after an incident with a fan; Hellas is also without Armel Bella-Kotchap, Cheikh Niasse, and Daniel Oyegoke.

In more positive news for the home team, Nicolas Valentini is eligible to return following a one-match suspension against Juventus.

Hellas Verona probable starting XI:

Montipo; Edmundsson, Nelsson, Frese; Belghali, Akpa Akpro, Gagliardini, Bernede, Bradaric; Suslov; Bowie

Como probable starting XI:

Butez; Smolcic, Carlos, Kempf, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas

Despite defying expectations to hold Juve at bay last weekend, Verona remains in a difficult position, having achieved only one win at the Bentegodi this season.

That figure is unlikely to improve on Sunday, since Como presents a formidable attack and is eager to keep their Champions League ambitions alive.