Chievo and Hellas Verona had to settle for a 2-2 draw in a turbulent Derby della Scala at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on Sunday afternoon.
An entertaining first-half brought about all the goals which saw Alberto Paloschi open the scoring for the hosts, before Juanito Gomez and Luca Toni put the away outfit ahead only for their advantage to be cancelled out by a Sergio Pellissier penalty.
The match began in tempestuous circumstances with three players – two from Hellas Verona – receiving yellow cards in the first five minutes of proceedings.
However, as the attention turned back to the football it was Chievo who drew first blood in the derby as Paloschi headed home from close range nine minutes in.
The striker latched onto Pellissier’s header across the face off goal to net his ninth league goal of the season.
But the Scaligeri did not have to wait long to restore parity, after Emil Hallfredsson’s crossing freekick found Gomez to score a forceful header.
Experienced referee Nicola Rizzoli continued to brandish the cards for a number of tetchy fouls, as the game struggled to flow fluently, incensing both sets of spectators.
Hellas Verona then took the lead after 25 minutes, courtesy of veteran Toni’s clinically taken volley from another Hallfredsson set-piece, taking his tally to 19 Serie A goals.
The 37-year-old easily brushed off his opponent to find the back-of-the-net and in the process move just one goal shy of 150 Serie A goals.
Bosko Jankovic was fortunate to still be on the park when he recklessly collided with Cristiano Biraghi.
The Flying Donkeys were invited back into the clash, when Guillermo Rodriguez was adjudged to have gone into the back of Pellissier inside the penalty area.
And from the ensuing spot-kick the forward converted, albeit with the assistance of the upright and evading the outstretched hand of Verona’s gloveman Rafael.
Toni was determined to get his side ahead again, but his attempt was denied by the underside of the crossbar.
After the interval, it was Chievo who took the initiative and pressed for a winner, but lacked overall quality in the final third.
Ezequiel Schelotto tried his luck from distance, as his powerful-driven shot went inches wide, much to the relief of Rafael.
As the half endured, Rolando Maran’s men persisted to find the break-through, though were unable to muster any clear-cut chances as Hellas defended deeply.
However, the second-half failed to match the intensity of the first-half as both teams had to share the spoils.
