Hellas Verona FC - Sassuolo predictions and free betting tips [03/03/2024]

On Sunday the 3rd of February as part of the 27th round of Serie A, Verona will host Sassuolo. This year, the Mastiffs have only won once, while the Neroverdi were left without a head coach last week and slipped into the relegation zone, suffering three losses in a row.

Verona

This season, Verona face serious threat of relegation, holding 17th place in the Serie A league table and being on equal terms with Sassuolo below them (both hold 20 points). Following a win over direct relegation rivals Empoli (2:1), Marco Baroni's team has gone six rounds without a win in the national championship (3 draws and 3 losses). In February, the Mastiffs put up a good performance against Monza (0:0) and Juventus (2:2), but a week ago lost without contest to Bologna (2:0). Scoring less than a goal per game on average, the 'Gialloblu' are one of the least scoring teams of the Serie A this season (a total of 23 goals). A notable point is that the schedule is in favour of Verona: after their duel with crisis-ridden Sassuolo, they have a modest Lecce coming up.

As in the previous rounds, the home team's coaching staff won't be able to rely on backup goalkeeper Berardi and forward Cruz (0 goals in 4 matches) due to injuries. However, there are no other absences in the Mastiffs squad. Several key players left Verona this winter, whilst the signing of forward Nørgaard (1 goal) strengthened the team - he is expected on the pitch again on Sunday. The presence of defender Centonze who came from Nantes is also significant. Attacking midfielder Michael Folorunsho, who has directly participated in three of the team's last five goals in the championship by scoring two and delivering an assist, will take the field. He'll be assisted by Tomáš Suslov.

Sassuolo

Few expected such lacklustre performance from Sassuolo this season, and now the Neroverdi are 18th in the Serie A league table with the same points as their opponents. Failing to win in the last 7 rounds (1 draw and 6 losses), the visitors are understandably increasingly disappointing their fans: currently on a 3-game losing streak – to Atalanta (3:0), Empoli (2:3) and Napoli last week (1:6). Uroš Račić put Sassuolo ahead, yet Victor Osimhen netted hat-trick, leaving no doubt about the match outcome. After Alessio Dionisi stepped down, Sassuolo's leadership was handed to the youth team head coach Emiliano Bigica, who is temporarily assuming the role of the main coach.

It's worth noting that the visitors have conceded the most goals (21) in Serie A over the last seven championship matches. The black-greens' squad still lacks defenders Toljan and Viti, while midfielder Boga completed his suspension. Domenico Berardi (9 goals and 3 assists) was injured in mid-January and returned to the squad last week but did not start against Napoli. With Berardi, the Neroverdi score 1.2 points and 1.5 goals per match this season; without him, the visitors haven't won any of the 10 Serie A matches, averaging 0.1 points per encounter. Sassuolo's main attacking threat is Andrea Pinamonti (9 goals in the championship), while former Verona player Josh Doig is expected to patrol the left flank.

Head-to-Head

Although the 3:1 victory in the first round match in September seems from another lifetime, Sassuolo will aim to double the victory over Verona for only the second time in their Serie A history.

Match prediction for Verona - Sassuolo

Only two out of 17 previous Serie A encounters between these clubs have ended in a draw. Verona performs much better at home this season, while Sassuolo is deep in crisis and without a head coach. Even the return of Berardi is unlikely to help the sinking Neroverdi. I predict a victory for the Mastiffs with a handicap of 0.