Relegation-threatened Hellas Verona and Europe-chasing Bologna are separated by 10 places in the Serie A table heading into Friday's encounter at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium.

Verona's creditable point at champions-elect Napoli last Saturday leaves them three points off safety, while Bologna held inconsistent AC Milan to a draw in Reggio Emilia.

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Marco Zaffaroni would have taken a point before his side travelled to Naples last week, but the visitors at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona could have claimed all three had Cyril Ngonge scored his late opportunity.

They left Napoli after giving a good account of themselves in extending their unbeaten run to two games, securing four points from an available six.

The upshot of the goalless encounter means the Mastiffs are only three points adrift of 17th-placed Spezia with eight Serie A fixtures remaining.

With the team above them not winning in four games, losing twice in that time, Verona could still beat relegation, especially if 16th-placed Lecce and 15th-placed Salernitana — who lead Zaffaroni's men with five and seven points — continue to falter in the run-in.

Neither side has claimed maximum points in their last five league games each, although the Salerno outfit have played out five draws.

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Verona hosts in-form Bologna on Friday, with the visitors still buoyed by last weekend's 1-1 draw at outgoing champions Milan.

Stefano Pioli's much-rotated side were held in Emilia-Romagna despite edging the game for shots and Expected Goals (xG), thus extending Bologna's unbeaten run to five.

Only two games in that run have produced victories, although it must be considered that Thiago Motta's troops have faced Lazio, Milan and Atalanta in that time.

Only the game against the Bergamaschi was a success, a win that has positioned the Red and Blues for a late European tussle.

Motta's team are eighth in the standings, five adrift of seventh-placed Atalanta and seven behind Inter Milan in sixth, who occupy the last continental spot in the competition.

With La Dea's indifferent form — the Bergamo outfit have claimed two victories in five — and Inter's inability to pick up wins in the league — the Nerazzurri have won just one of their last seven games, losing five — Bologna should fancy their chances of supplanting Gian Piero Gasperini's team and Simone Inzaghi's side in the campaign's denouement.

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Miguel Veloso and Giangiacomo Magnani were suspended at Napoli last Saturday, but Zaffaroni should welcome both back for Verona on Friday.

The quartet of Thomas Henry, Ajdin Hrustic, Darko Lazovic and Deyovaisio Zeefuik are expected to miss out, whilst Josh Doig is unlikely to feature after going off after 45 minutes in Naples due to a foot injury.

Roberto Soriano is out for a month after suffering a ligament injury and could be replaced by Riccardo Orsolini, who returns from suspension for Bologna.

Andrea Cambiaso (muscle) and Marko Arnautovic (foot) are also ruled out of round 30's encounter.

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Magnani, Hien, Ceccherini; Faraoni, Tameze, Veloso, Depaoli; Duda; Verdi, Lasagna

Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Soumaoro, Lucumi, Kyriakopoulos; Ferguson, Schouten, Dominguez; Orsolini, Sansone, Barrow

We say: Hellas Verona 2-2 Bologna

Bologna have netted two goals in five of their last six away games in Serie A, which ostensibly makes them favourites on Friday.

However, Verona are tough to beat at the Bentegodi in 2023, losing one of their seven home games, and their knack for scoring at home suggests this could end in a high-scoring draw.


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