Both battling desperately for Serie A survival, Hellas Verona and Lecce clash at Stadio Bentegodi on Sunday.
While Hellas have a five-point buffer to their southern counterparts, who are much deeper in danger, the pair sit just above the dreaded dotted line with three games to go.
Match preview
© Imago
Just as it seemed that Verona would scrape over the line and celebrate another successful attempt to stay at Italy's top level, they have lost their last three league matches without scoring.
Delaying confirmation of their Serie A place for next season, the Scaligeri followed a goalless home draw against Genoa with defeats to Roma, Cagliari and, most recently, Inter Milan - they last found the net in early April.
In fact, Paolo Zanetti's men have failed to score in 10 of their 17 home games so far, and one more blank would set a new negative club record by surpassing a low watermark set in 1988-89.
Beaten by Inter's ninth-minute opener from the penalty spot last week, Hellas have also been hampered by slow starts all season, consistently giving them a mountain to climb after the break.
They have now conceded 28 goals during the first half - incidentally, 20 more than Lecce - and that represents the worst such record across Europe's top five leagues. Yet, victory this week would essentially secure survival.
Historically, Verona hold the upper hand over Lecce: they were unbeaten in nine league meetings before losing 1-0 in October's reverse fixture, and they are still undefeated at the Bentegodi.
© Imago
Lecce have never won away to Verona in Serie A, only managing to claim four draws, but they will be intent on ending that long wait this weekend.
It has also been a while since the Salentini claimed maximum points anywhere around the Italian peninsula, having failed to win any of their last 12 league games - a run that dates back to January's 3-1 success in Parma.
Last time out, Lecce were beaten 1-0 by league leaders Napoli at a frenzied Via del Mare - where fireworks and protests temporarily stopped play - leaving them in acute danger.
Having picked up just two points from their last 10 matches, Marco Giampaolo's men only have a one-point gap to the relegation zone, meaning their three-year stay among Calcio's elite could soon end.
Reliant on shoot-on-sight striker Nikola Krstovic to fire them away from trouble, the Giallorossi have recorded the fewest scorers in Serie A this season (seven), so more contributors may be required if they are to defeat the drop.
Team News
© Imago
Verona boss Paolo Zanetti has a selection headache to resolve up front, as he seeks to end his team's woes in the opposition box.
Six-goal top scorer Casper Tengstedt has been plagued by fitness problems, while all four of Amin Sarr's league strikes have come away from home, and Daniel Mosquera has scored each of his five as a substitute.
There is better news at the back, as Daniele Ghilardi and Diego Coppola both return from suspension, and Pawel Dawidowicz has recovered from an injury. Only veteran wing-back Davide Faraoni is a doubt.
Meanwhile, Lecce's attack should be led by Nikola Krstovic - responsible for 10 of his club's 23 league goals this season - though an adductor issue has left question marks over whether he can start. Ante Rebic is on standby.
Only long-term absentees Gaby Jean and Filip Marchwinski (both ACL) are certainly sidelined, ahead of the long trip north.
Since making his Serie A debut in 2022, ever-present captain Federico Baschirotto has played 109 games, starting each one. Over that period, the bustling centre-back has accrued more minutes in Italy's top flight (9775) than any other outfield player.
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Ghilardi, Coppola, Valentini; Tchatchoua, Duda, Serdar, Bradaric; Suslov; Tengstedt, Sarr
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Guilbert, Baschirotto, Gaspar, Gallo; Coulibaly, Pierret; Pierotti, Helgason, Morente; Krstovic
We say: Hellas Verona 1-0 Lecce
Goals are likely to be in short supply when two struggling teams meet, and a scrappy contest may be decided by just one strike.
All but confirming their place in Serie A next season, hosts Verona can end their month-long drought and finally score, leaving Lecce in serious trouble with just two games remaining.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
