Chievo Verona vs AS Roma 09/02/19

09 February 2019

The rock-bottom Chievo Verona welcome AS Roma to the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi desperate to bring a disastrous 11-game winless run against the Rome giants to an end (D4, L7).

Dead-last Chievo have a very few chances of avoiding the Serie A relegation as they currently trail the safety zone by nine points. Nailed to the bottom of the table, the Flying Donkeys have clinched just one triumph in 22 SA fixtures (W1, D9, L12) which is the worst record in the Italian top flight. Although their only league victory came at home, the hosts’ tally of six defeats in 11 SA home clashes is the league joint-worst. What’s more, only one team has conceded more goals at home than Chievo (21) this campaign, with Domenico Di Carlo’s players allowing over 1.5 goals per match on six occasions thus far. In addition to a miserly average of 1 goal scored per match at home, the Verona-based side managed over 1.5 goals scored per game only three times, which is the joint second worst record in Serie A.

With Serie A entering its decisive phase, the visitors have to win this to increase their chances of reaching the Champions League promotion. Sitting sixth in the table, with a one-point deficit to AC Milan, the Giallorossi come into this meeting with a five-game SA unbeaten run (W3, D2) although they’ve failed to wrap up all three points in their last two league outings. A potential concern for Eusebio Di Francesco could be Roma’s indifferent road form (W3, D3, L4) and the fact they’ve secured just one triumph on the previous seven SA road trips (W1, D4, L2). Although managed only three clean sheets in 11 SA away games, La Lupa conceded 13 goals on an average of 1.18 goals allowed per match. Meanwhile, just 31% of Roma’s goals this campaign came away from home, with Dzeko and Co. bagging barely 13 goals on the road so far.

Provisional line-up – Chievo Verona:

Gk: Sorrentino Defense: Rossettini – Barba – Mattia Bani – Jaroszynski Midfield: Hetemaj – Kiyine – Rigoni Attack: Giaccherini – Stepinski – Filip Djordjevic

Provisional line-up – AS Roma:

Gk: Olsen Defense: Kolarov – Fazio – Ivan Marcano – Karsdorp Midfield: Florenzi – N’Zonzi – De Rossi – Zaniolo Attack: Schick – Dzeko