On Monday, Hellas Verona will host Sampdoria at the Stadio Bentegodi for the late kick-off between the 15th and fifth-placed sides in Serie A.
The atmosphere in Verona promises to be something special considering the friendship between the two sets of supporters and the fans will have the day to prepare themselves as Italy takes the day off to celebrate the Immaculate Conception in the run-up to Christmas.
Both sides need a win to get their form truly back on track but for markedly different reasons, with both clubs sitting at different ends of the table. Samp will be looking to reassert their European credentials after three consecutive draws and the Ligurian side will be desperate to get over the trauma of conceding a last-minute equaliser to Napoli at the Marassi after outplaying the Partenopei.
A win for the Blucerchiati could see them hop back into the Champions League places at the expense of rivals Napoli and Genoa depending on how results go elsewhere.
The Gialloblu meanwhile will be desperate to get three points on the board after a seven game winless run has seen them slide down the table after a promising start to the season. But it will be a tough test against a strong Sampdoria side. The Scaligeri meanwhile know that a win will keep some space between them and the bottom three, with Hellas only four points above local rivals Chievo who occupy 18th in the table.
During the 2013-14 Serie A season Hellas beat Sampdoria 2-0 at the Bentegodi but lost 5-0 away in the league with Roberto Soriano netting twice on his journey from young hopeful to Italy international. The Ligurians also thrashed the Mastini 4-1 in the Coppa Italia at home.
However, Doria boss Sinisa Mihajlovic will not be able to call upon Soriano against Verona due to suspension after the 23-year-old was booked against Napoli and the same goes for his midfield partner Pedro Obiang. So it is likely Nenad Krsticic will make his second start of the season.
Verona coach Andrea Mandorlini has more pressing concerns with injury and suspension and will have to pick a team without some of his key players. Influential midfielder Emil Hallfredsson is suspended while fellow midfielder Artur Ionita is a doubt and only took part in physiotherapy and gym sessions in training at Peschiera on the Thursday before the fixture.
Creative midfield player Mounir Obbadi is not expected to be back after the Moroccan suffered his second muscle injury of the season but he should be available to face Chievo in the derby on December 21.
Powerful centre-back Frederik Sorensen is unlikely to play after he was capable only of a light run in training while Bosko Jankovic, Ivan Martic and Jacapo Sala all remain out injured and were only able to participate in physiotherapy sessions at Peschiera.
Expected Starting XIs
Hellas Verona: Rafael; Agostini, Moras, Marquez, Gonzalez; Christodoulopoulos, Tachtsidis, Campanharo; Gomez Taleb, Toni, Lopez
Sampdoria: Romero; Regini, Romagnoli, Silvestre, De Silvestri; Krsticic, Palombo, Rizzo; Eder, Okaka, Gabbiadini
