Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Serie A clash between Como and Hellas Verona, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Fresh off a first Serie A victory in 21 years, Como return to Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in gameweek six, keen to secure another positive result in Sunday’s gameweek six clash with Hellas Verona.
With recent games involving both sides in the lead-up to this weekend producing a surfeit of goals, supporters could be in for a treat in Lombardy.
Match preview
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It took five games but Cesc Fabregas‘ Como celebrated their first win of the 2024-25 season in a drama-filled 3-2 success over last term’s Europa League champions Atalanta in Bergamo.
Despite falling behind to Davide Zappacosta‘s 18th-minute effort, three goals in a 12-minute period saw the promoted side lead 3-1 before Ademola Lookman halved the deficit for the hosts in second-half stoppage time.
That success, the club’s first since regaining promotion and a first in exactly 21 years and four months, took them into 15th place in the standings, and they hope to build on that triumph and an ongoing undefeated sequence.
Although the Azzurri still struggle for defensive balance, underscored by their last two games producing nine goals, four points from an available six should please their Spanish head coach.
After a challenging start that saw the Lariani pick one point from three rounds, supporters hope recent results point to an extended upswing to allay fears of being overwhelmed in the big time.
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Travelling to Lombardy this weekend are Verona, whose satisfying start to 24-25 has given way to disheartening results, with the Gialloblu losing consecutive matches after notching six from the opening three rounds.
The latest reverse against Torino (3-2) followed round four’s 2-1 defeat against capital club Lazio, meaning Verona have lost back-to-back Serie A fixtures for the first time since January when they fell to relegated Salernitana and eventual champions Inter.
Paolo Zanetti hopes to avoid a third straight league defeat for the Mastiffs, who have not suffered a losing run lasting that long since November last year when the club were beaten for five successive fixtures.
Also concerning for Verona is their history against this weekend’s opponents, whom they have failed to beat in 10 of 11 visits across the professional divisions in Italian football.
It remains to be seen if Zanetti inspires a turnaround on Sunday, especially as Como enter the gameweek full of confidence and Verona reeling from recent disappointments.
Como Serie A form:
Como form (all competitions):
Hellas Verona Serie A form:
Hellas Verona form (all competitions):
Team News
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Alberto Cerri will be assessed before kick-off, although the forward was unlikely to start for Como had he been healthy.
Patrick Cutrone did not score or assist in Tuesday’s historic victory, but the forward opening his account in the 1-1 draw at Cagliari and doubling that tally in a recent 2-2 tie with Bologna highlights his importance to the promoted side’s survival prospects.
Pawel Dawidowicz was dismissed for violent conduct against Torino, and the Verona defender is ruled out against Como and the Mastiffs’ next fixture against Venezia.
Zanetti has several injury absentees, with Ondrej Duda and Tomas Suslov dealing with muscular problems, Suat Serdar hamstrung, Abdou Harroui absent with a knee issue and Juan Manuel Cruz out with a thigh injury.
Como possible starting lineup:
Audero; Brempt, Dossena, Kempf, Moreno; Roberto, Perrone; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Cutrone
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Tchatchoua, Daniliuc, Coppola, Frese; Belahyane, Silva; Kastanos, Sarr, Lazovic; Tengstedt
We say: Como 2-1 Hellas Verona
Como enter gameweek six in high spirits, and that should stand them in good stead against a Verona side on a two-match losing run in Serie A.
Having conceded a late equaliser in their previous home match against Bologna (2-2), Fabregas’ men should secure maximum points on their turf this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.