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

Hellas Verona square off against Cagliari on Saturday afternoon looking to end a run of three successive defeats in Serie A.

While the form of the visitors has realistically ended their bid for a top-seven spot, Cagliari's two defeats in a row have left them occupying a place in the relegation zone.

Match preview

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At the beginning of March, Ivan Juric would have been delighted with the progress of his side, claiming eight points from a four-game stretch which included a fixture against Juventus.

However, three setbacks in a row, all against opponents sitting in the top eight, have effectively put the visitors in a position where eighth spot would be regarded as a solid achievement.

With trips to Inter Milan and Napoli still to come, things do not get any easier for I Gialloblu, but there will be a desire to get back on track at the weekend.

Goals remain an issue for this side with top goalscorer Antonin Barak having failed to get on the scoresheet since netting against Juventus on February 27.

While Verona head into this contest on the back of a home defeat to Atalanta BC, Cagliari are attempting to respond to their costly setback against Spezia.

Losing out to one of their relegation rivals has created a seven-point gap between the two clubs, heaping the pressure on recently-appointed boss Leonardo Semplici.

The former SPAL manager will be relatively content with seven points from his opening five games in charge, but their upcoming schedule dictates that they must take points from games such as this one.

Four meetings against top-six opposition are still to come, although Semplici will take encouragement from his team scoring in each of their outings since his arrival.

Joao Pedro and Giovanni Simeone have now netted 19 times between them this season, contributing over half of Verona's goals in the top flight.

Team News

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Semplici will give consideration to handing a recall to Simeone, who could be brought in as a replacement for Leonardo Pavoletti.

Gaston Pereiro netted his first goal of the season in the last match, putting him in contention for just his third start of the campaign.

Juric made three half-time substitutions versus Atalanta, potentially an indication that he could make multiple changes to his Verona XI.

Stefano Sturaro and Darko Lazovic will both feel that they may be drafted into the starting lineup.

Depending on whether Juric sticks with a 3-4-2-1 formation, Ivan Ilic could also return to the team.

Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Cragno; Rugani, Godin, Klavan; Nandez, Marin, Duncan, Nainggolan, Lykogiannis; Pedro, Simeone

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Silvestri; Dawidowicz, Lovato, Ceccherini; Faraoni, Tameze, Veloso, Ilic, Lazovic; Barak; Zaccagni

We say: Cagliari 1-1 Hellas Verona

With no wins between them since the first weekend in March, quality may be lacking during a game between two teams who are out of sorts. While the home side are under more pressure to get back on track, we feel that could inspire them to earn a positive result in their bid to avoid the drop.