Napoli-Hellas Verona Match Preview

Napoli look to respond from their second consecutive loss to AC Milan, while simultenously reducing the magic number to three.  However, it won’t be easy against a Hellas Verona side who have enjoyed playing spoiler at the Stadio Maradona in recent years. After a dreadful first half of the season, Hellas Verona seem to have found their form and are now only four points away from safety.

SSC Napoli

Despite being 16 points clear of their nearest rival (13 after Lazio’s win over Spezia on Friday), Napoli are experiencing their worst run of form all season.  After losing only three of their first 32 matches in all competitions (including an all-but-meaningless match against Liverpool and a shootout loss to Cremonese), the Partenopei have lost three of their last seven.

Perhaps more concerning than the record is the lack of goal scoring of late. Napoli have scored only two goals over their last three matches, and one was a gift of an own goal by Lecce. The sudden struggle to find the back of the goal has coincided with a mini striker crisis. Giacomo Raspadori was the only centre forward in the squad for Napoli’s Champions League match against Milan, and even he was not fit enough to play from the first minute.

The recent struggles have also coincided with a civil war between club president Aurelio de Laurentiis and Napoli’s ultras, who staged a silent protest during Napoli’s worst defeat of the season – a 0-4 drubbing at the hands of AC Milan. The ultras were protesting against high ticket prices and prohibitions on flags, drums and megaphones. However, after Wednesday’s defeat, the parties have been rumoured to have made peace. Consequently, we could mean see the flags, drums, megaphones and, most importantly, chants  return to the Maradona as soon as Saturday.

Hellas Verona

Hellas Verona have enjoyed their longest stay in Serie A since the late 80’s/early 90’s, when the shared a bitter rivalry with Napoli.  However, sitting in 18th position in the table, I Gialloblu are at risk of being relegated for the first time since the 2017/18 campaign.

The visitors earned an important 2-1 victory over Sassuolo last round, reducing the gap to Spezia to only four points, after gli Aquilotti managed a draw against red-hot Fiorentina.  With Spezia’s loss on Friday against Lazio, Verona will have an opportunity to further reduce the gap as we enter the final quarter of the season. 

Coach Marco Zaffaroni has done an admirable job since being hired in December. Prior to his appointment, Hellas Verona had lost ten consecutive matches and were dead last in the table, having earned only five points through 15 rounds.  Since then, gli Gialloblu have clawed their way up the table with a record of four wins, five draws and five losses (or 17 points).  Remarkably, Zaffaroni has turned the ship around while juggling numerous injuries and player suspensions.

Injuries/Suspensions

Giovanni Simeone continues to recover from the muscular injury he suffered in the Lecce match.  Gianluca Gaetano missed training on Thursday due to the flu, but completed the full group session Friday, along with Victor Osimhen, who’s expected to return to the squad.  Meanwhile, Tanguy Ndombele is suspended after picking his fifth yellow card of the season against Lecce.

Hellas Verona’s injury-plagued season continues, as left back Josh Doig and midfielder Darko Lazović were left out of the matchday squad. They join a number of players who were already injured, including: Deyovaisio Zeefuik (groin); Ibrahim Sulemana (unknown); Ajdin Hrustic (ankle); and Thomas Henry (ACL).

Fabio De Paoli returns from suspension, while Giangiacomo Magnani and Miguel Veloso are suspended due to yellow card accumulation.