Hellas Verona v Palermo: Mastini look to make Bentegodi a fortress once again

Date: 12th September 2014 at 11:50am
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Hellas Verona will be looking to re-discover last season’s formidable home form when they welcome newly promoted Palermo to the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi on Monday night.

The sides last met in a Coppa Italia clash back in August 2013 with Hellas running out 1-0 winners thanks to a Luca Toni strike. Incredibly their last Serie A clash dates back to March 1973 and the two sides have met just six times in Italy’s top flight, with the Mastini edging the head to head with two wins to one.

If the clubs recent Serie A form is anything to go by, then the Gialloblu should be fancied to make home advantage count against Giuseppe Iachini’s men. The Veronese won their first six home games on the bounce last season and were bettered just six times at the Bentegodi. In stark contrast, Palermo’s away form during their last Serie A campaign (2012/13) was dismal, picking up just one win at Sampdoria on match day 31.

However, en route to their promotion, the Rosanero boasted the best defensive record in Serie B, conceding just 28 goals and Iachini will be hoping this defensive fortitude can stymie what proved to be a free-scoring Scaligeri attack at the Bentegodi last term.

Both sides will be looking to build upon opening day draws after Hellas held Atalanta to a 0-0 stalemate in Bergamo and the Aquile were made to rue missed chances after a Daniele Gastardello stoppage time equaliser snatched a 1-1 draw for 10-man Sampdoria at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.

Andrea Mandorlini praised Verona’s performance claiming “the points are all important, especially against solid teams like Atalanta.”

Iachini on the other hand was left frustrated by Palermo’s profligacy “We should have paid more attention on [Daniele] Gastaldello’s equaliser but above all we should have scored another with the man advantage.”

Palermo old boys, Bosko Jankovic and Luca Toni are both expected to line-up for the Mastini against their former club while deadline day signing, Javier Saviola, will also be at Mandorlini’s disposal.

The Sicilians will be without centre-back Ezequiel Munoz after the Argentinian suffered a left thigh strain which could keep him sidelined for up to three weeks. Andrea Belotti’s impressive form for Italy u21’s last week, netting three goals in two games, could give Iachini a selection headache in the forward positions, especially after confirmation of Abel Hernandez’s departure to Hull City.

Expected Starting XIs

Hellas Verona – Rafael; Martic, Marquez, Moras, Agostini; Obbadi, Tachtsidis, Hallfredsson; Gomez, Toni, Jankovic.

Palermo – Sorrentino; Bamba, Terzi, Andelkovic; Pisano, Bolzoni, Rigoni, Barreto, Lazaar; Vazquez, Dybala

Follow Luca Hodges-Ramon on Twitter: @LH_Ramon25

 

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