Hellas Verona vs Roma – News and Probable Lineups

As Roma approaches the brink of securing their Champions League return, they can achieve qualification with a victory against Hellas Verona at Stadio Bentegodi.

On Sunday, the Serie A finale will feature four clubs competing for the last two spots, meaning the Giallorossi must secure a win to avoid missing out.

Match overview

Currently occupying the final two Champions League positions, Roma and Milan hold a two-point advantage over both Juventus and Como as they head into the last day of the season.

However, Serie A’s method of not using goal difference to break ties might lead to a complicated situation if Roma draws while Juve and Como both win.

Head-to-head points come before goal difference in those matches and then the overall league record is considered, which could leave Roma vulnerable if they falter on Sunday evening.

Continuing a pattern of struggles against Italy’s elite sides, they haven’t performed well against their rivals this season, prompting head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to push for a decisive win to secure qualification.

Just a step away, Roma last finished in the top four around eight years ago when they last exceeded 70 points – both of which remain attainable by the end of Gasperini’s inaugural season.

With all teams needing to play simultaneously, familiar fixture confusion arose last weekend until it was confirmed that the Derby della Capitale would commence at noon on Sunday.

A dominant pair of headers from Gianluca Mancini decided what was a typically fierce battle against Lazio, and Gasperini’s team is now enjoying four consecutive wins while netting 11 goals.

Nevertheless, Roma’s away form pales in comparison to their remarkable home results at Stadio Olimpico, having suffered defeats in their last two trips to Verona.

Having narrowly avoided relegation for much of the last seven years, Hellas have already been relegated and will be heading to Serie B.

This weekend will mark the end of their stay in Italy’s top tier, concluding a dismal season.

Paolo Sammarco’s team has managed to gather merely three points from their last nine fixtures, despite managing draws against two top clubs this month.

After surprisingly holding Juventus to a 1-1 tie in Turin, they duplicated that against the newly crowned Serie A champions Inter de Milão last time out, with Kieron Bowie scoring the Gialloblu’s only goal.

Had the January signing arrived in the summer, the outcome might have been different, as Verona has scored in only 19 league games thus far.

Another failure to find the back of the net would tie them with a negative club record from 1989, and they would also go through six consecutive home matches without scoring for the first time in their Serie A history.

Given this context, it’s hardly surprising that Hellas have accumulated only 21 points, marking their lowest tally in the top flight this century.

Their only glimmer of hope lies in historical performance: although Roma won the reverse fixture in September, Verona has actually triumphed in four of the last five games at Stadio Bentegodi.

Team News

Roma will enter this essential showdown without two critical players, as Wesley is serving a suspension following his red card in the derby, and Evan Ndicka is sidelined with a thigh injury.

Evan Ferguson (ankle) and Bryan Zaragoza (knee) are also out, while Kostas Tsimikas (flu) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (muscular) are significant doubts, but Manu Kone is expected to return from his absence.

Once again, Paulo Dybala, Matias Soule, and Niccolo Pisilli will compete to support Donyell Malen in attack; since joining midway through the season, Malen has found the net 13 times in 17 league outings.

Now back to fitness, Dybala has provided an assist in both of his last two appearances and could extend his contract if Champions League qualification is secured.

A rare bright spot amid the ongoing gloom at the Bentegodi, Bowie has scored all of Verona’s last four goals – though this wasn’t enough to earn him a spot on Escócia’s World Cup squad.

Gift Orban, who has seven goals, remains unavailable due to disciplinary issues, while several other players are also nursing injuries.

Not only is Roberto Gagliardini suspended for Sunday’s Serie A farewell, but Suat Serdar, Daniel Mosquera, and Daniel Oyegoke are all ruled out.

Hellas Verona probable starting XI:

Montipo; Edmundsson, Nelson, Valentini; Belghali, Akpa Akpro, Lovric, Bernede, Frese; Suslaw; Bowie

Roma probable starting XI:

Svilar; Mancini, Hermoso, Ghilardi; Celik, Cristante, Kone, Rensch; Pisilli, Dybala; Malen

Despite Verona showing signs of improvement since their relegation was confirmed, Roma appears formidable and would rightfully deserve to claim a long-sought top-four finish.

While the Giallorossi may struggle away from home, their motivation is high as they aim to secure a place at the top table of European football.