Preview: Benevento vs. Hellas Verona - prediction, team news, lineups

Hellas Verona will be looking to build on their draw against Juventus when they make the trip to out-of-form Benevento on Wednesday evening.

The Gialloblu enter the midweek round of fixtures ninth in the table, while Benevento are just seven points above the dropzone after a run of eight games without a win.

Match preview

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Cristiano Ronaldo's 26th goal of the campaign looked to have condemned Verona to defeat in Saturday's clash with Juventus, but Antonin Barak headed in 13 minutes from time to snatch a point.

That late goal ensures that Ivan Juric's side are now unbeaten in three league games, having previously defeated Parma 2-1 and played out a 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Not since January 2016 have Verona drawn three league games in a row, but victory will be the target for Juric in midweek, with a European spot not entirely out of the question.

Indeed, Hellas are now eight points behind Lazio in seventh, which would be enough for a place in the newly-formed Europa Conference League next season.

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Benevento's aim at this stage is on avoiding the drop, sitting as they do just seven points above the relegation zone following a rare win for 18th-placed Cagliari at the weekend.

Since beating Cagliari 2-1 on January 6, the Sorcerers have lost four and drawn four, most recently going down 2-0 to Lazio on Sunday.

Dries Mertens and Matteo Politano were on target for Napoli in a straightforward victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, making it three away losses in four for Benevento.

Drawing 0-0 with Roma last time out at home was a positive enough result for Filippo Inzaghi's charges, but they have now gone back-to-back games without netting.

A good omen for Benevento is that the home team has won each of the three Serie A meetings between these sides, with the Sorcerers prevailing 3-0 the last time they hosted this fixture.

Benevento Serie A form: DLDDDL

Hellas Verona Serie A form: WLLWDD

Team News

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Roberto Insigne replaced Pasquale Schiattarella at half time against Napoli and is in contention to start this match.

Riccardo Improta, Kamil Glik and Iago Falque are the home side's only confirmed injury absentees.

Inzaghi has operated with a 4-3-2-1 formation that is spearheaded by Gianluca Lapadula, who is looking to score against the same side home and away in a single Serie A campaign for just the third time.

As for the visitors, Miguel Veloso is in line for a recall to the starting lineup after coming on for Ivan Ilic midway through the draw with Juventus.

Darko Lazovic is another who will be hopeful of a place in the XI after setting up Barak's goal as a second-half substitute last time out.

Barak and Kevin Lasagna have each scored three goals in three Serie A meetings versus Benevento - against no other sides have they scored more often in the top flight.

Benevento possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Depaoli, Tuia, Barba, Foulon; Viola, Insigne, Hetemaj; Ionita, Caprari; Lapadula

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Silvestri; Magnani, Gunter, Lovato; Faraoni, Sturaro, Ilic, Lazovic; Barak, Zaccagni; Lasagna

We say: Benevento 2-2 Hellas Verona

Benevento are on a bad run of form and are now well and truly in a relegation battle, whereas Verona look good value for a top-half finish after holding Juventus last time out.

However, the home side have drawn their last three matches at Stadio Ciro Vigorito and we can see them taking a point from Wednesday evening's clash.