Verona vs Monza Predictions

• Monza have won three of their last six Serie A games.
• Raffaele Palladino’s men have only lost two of their last 11 league matches, winning five.
• Verona, meanwhile, have gone three games without a win (or a goal) after a four-match unbeaten run.
• Monza won November’s return fixture 2-0.

Verona revival stalling

Verona’s goalless draw with Spezia last time out did see them stay in touch with those narrowly outside the relegation zone, but it also could be viewed as a missed opportunity to drag a fellow struggler into the mire. While Marco Zaffaroni revived Verona’s survival hopes after the World Cup break through his emphasis on compact defensive work, their form has tailed off in recent weeks, and they will face a very tough challenge when they take on Monza.

Having gone four games unbeaten though late January and early February, Verona are now three without a win. Granted, Roma and Fiorentina were expected to beat the Gialloblu, but their failure to score in all three matches is a real worry. Indeed, only Sampdoria (11) have now scored fewer than their 20 goals in Serie A this season. Only Lecce (41.7 per cent) average a lower possession share than Verona’s 43 per cent in the Italian top flight this term, and they will likely play a reactive game again on Sunday.

Indeed, Monza average 55 per cent possession in their Serie A games this campaign, a tally only bettered by leaders Napoli and Fiorentina – who remain in the hunt for two cups. Some may have wondered whether Raffaele Palladino’s men were reverting to type when they followed up a 1-0 defeat to Milan with a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Salernitana recently, but they responded with a 2-1 win over Empoli last time out, and have now won three of their last six in Serie A.

Beware the draw, but Monza favourites

With Monza losing just two of their last 11 Serie A games – and one of those defeats coming against Milan – backing them to beat a Verona side showing little attacking inspiration looks prudent.

However, Verona have drawn three of their last six matches, five of which have contained a maximum of two goals. With a tight contest likely, backing the proactive visitors at a decent price on the draw no bet market may make sense, with a 1-0 away win a solid correct score prediction.

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