Chievo host Hellas Verona in the Derby Della Scala on Sunday lunchtime standing just one point apart in the Serie A table.
With both sides free from relegation worries, Veronese bragging rights will be up for grabs as the Mussi Volanti look to capitalise on good recent form that has seen them lose just twice in thirteen outings.
The Mastini’s recent results have been mixed, having won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six outings, though Luca Toni has been on something of a hot streak, having scored five goals in those six games. The veteran striker is just two goals shy of 150 in Serie A, which would lift him to 25th on the all-time list.
Toni scored the winning goal the last time Hellas beat Chievo in April 2014, which was his side’s only win in the last four meetings and, as a result of the fact that both sides have spent time outside Serie A, the Mastini’s first only victory since 2001.
There have been few derbies in Verona over the years; Sunday will see only the 14th such meeting, and only the sixth in Serie A. Chievo hold a narrow six win to five lead overall , and three to two in Serie A meetings.
The first derby this season was a rather turgid affair settled by a late Alberto Paloschi header and completed a run of three derbies with a single goal.
The visitors have a number of absentees to contend with, particularly in the form of three players who will miss out through suspension – Jacopo Sala and Rafael Marquez both received red cards in the defeat to Udinese, while Leandro Greco reached nine bookings during that match.
Andrea Mandorlini’s squad is shorn of a number of players through injury, too, with Rafael, Emil Hallfredsson and Artur Ionita all unlikely to make the squad. Meanwhile, Chievo enter the match in good shape, with just Federico Mattiello and Ervin Zukanovic set to miss out with injury and no suspensions for the game.
Form Guide: Chievo (D-W-D-D-W-L), Hellas Verona (L-D-W-W-L-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Chievo: Bizzarri; Schelotto, Dainelli, Cesar, Frey; Birsa, Radovanovic, Izco, Hetemaj; Paloschi, Meggiorini.
Hellas Verona: Benussi; Pisano, Moras, Rodriguez, Bravo; Obbadi, Tachtsidis, Campanharo; Gomez, Toni, Jankovic.
