Hellas Verona vs Roma

Hellas Verona and Roma are set to square off in an intriguing Serie A showdown at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.

Hellas Verona had to survive a dreaded relegation playoff against Spezia to keep hold of their Serie A status last term. However, they seem to have learned their lesson, at least based on a hard-fought 1-0 triumph at Empoli on day one. After opening a new league campaign with a win for only the fifth time in the 21st century, ‘I Gialloblu’ are gunning for back-to-back victories at the start of a new Serie A season for only the third time in the club’s history. New manager Marco Baroni will be particularly motivated to inspire Verona to such an impressive feat after going winless in all five previous managerial encounters against Roma (D1, L4). The former Lecce boss can draw inspiration from Verona’s positive three-game home league record against ‘I Giallorossi’ (W2, L1).

Meanwhile, without captain Lorenzo Pellegrini and star forwards Tammy Abraham and Paulo Dybala, Roma could only manage a 2-2 home draw against Salernitana on the opening weekend. After failing to find the net in the entire 2022/23 season, Andrea Belotti struck home twice to salvage a point for Jose Mourinho’s new-look squad. But it wasn’t a dream start for Roma’s effort to return to a top-four picture after missing out on Champions League qualification last term. Mourinho will not stand by the touchline at the Bentegodi due to his ten-day ban, casting doubt on the visitors’ bid to avoid defeat in their first away game of a new Serie A season for the 12th time in 13 seasons (W7, D4, L1).