Prediction: Hellas Verona vs Bologna

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 13/17

Bookmaker: BetUS

The fourth round of the Serie A season is set to close on Monday evening at the Marcantonio Bentegodi in Verona, where Hellas Verona will be playing host to Bologna.

After the opening three rounds and the matches played on Saturday, Verona sit in seventh place with six points, which for the time being looks very good for a team that barely avoided relegation last term, and Bologna are 10th with four to their name.

Hellas Verona

For Verona, the season started with a Coppa Italia match against Ascoli which they won, and then took to the Serie A campaign with at least a little bit of confidence. It started very well, with a 0-1 win away to Empoli, and continued even better as they beat AS Roma at home by 2-1, despite playing with 10 men after Isak Hien picked up a red card with six of the 90 minutes to go.

However, Verona suffered their first defeat of the season just before the international break, 3-1 away to Sassuolo. It was Andrea Pinamonti who broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 11th minute, and the hopes of Marco Baroni and his men were rekindled when Cyril Ngonge struck an equalizer in the 56th. But Domenico Berardi then stepped up for Sassuolo and took the game in his own hands, restoring his team’s lead in the 63rd, before putting the finishing touch from the penalty spot 10 minutes later.

An realistic goal for this team in 2023/24 would be to avoid such a narrow squeak this time, which, with all due respect, seems all they can do in the Italian top flight.

Team News

Coach Baroni won’t be able to count on several attacking players for this fixture. Darko Lazovic, Thomas Henry, Jayden Braaf and Ajdin Hrustic are all unavailable due to various injury issues.

Hien is back in contention after serving his red card suspension, but he’s still likely to miss out on the starting XI in favour of Pawel Dawidowitz, Diego Coppola and Giangiacomo Magnani. Upfront, Jordi Mboula and Ngonge are expected to play closest to the opposition goal, with Michael Folorunsho just behind.

Bologna

Bologna also started 2023/24 with a cup win, 2-0 over Cesena. In the Serie A, they’ve gradually improved their results after losing 0-2 at home to AC Milan, by playing a hard-earned 1-1 draw away to Juventus and beating Cagliari 2-1 at home.

Thiago Motta’s men had to come from behind to win that game, after Zito Luvumbo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 22nd minute. The equalizer came through former Bayern Munich youngster Joshua Zirkzee in the 59th, before Giovanni Fabbian turned it completely around late, with just over a minute of the 90 left on the clock; obviously a joyful moment for the home supporters.

Bologna have established themselves as a regular mid-table team in the Serie A, and they’ll be looking to maintain that status through the current campaign.

Team News

Motta will not be able to name Lukasz Skorupski to stand between the posts,  or count on the services of defender Adama Soumaoro, who isn’t expected back until February next year. Winger Musa Barrow is currently classified as a doubt for the Verona trip.

Conclusion

This should be an interesting, closely contested game between two sides with not much difference between them. Both have shown the ability to score, but their defences can be suspect at times. There should be goals on both sides.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 13/17

Bookmaker: BetUS