There should be entertainment when Hellas Verona host Atalanta, as the coaches have similar approaches, not to mention players like Papu Gomez, Duvan Zapata and Matteo Pessina.
It kicks off at the Stadio Bentegodi at 16.15 UK time (15.15 GMT).
There should be entertainment when Hellas Verona host Atalanta, as the coaches have similar approaches, not to mention players like Papu Gomez, Duvan Zapata and Matteo Pessina.
It kicks off at the Stadio Bentegodi at 16.15 UK time (15.15 GMT).
Verona coach Ivan Juric is a protégé of Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini, working with him as a player for many years at Genoa, then as his assistant manager.
He has adopted a similar style of tactics, which means possession, quick passing and constant pressing to go on the attack.
The last time these sides met, it ended 3-2 for La Dea, but on this occasion Juric will have to watch from the stands, as he sits out a touchline ban.
Verona are also missing injured Marash Kumbulla, Pawel Dawidowicz, Salvatore Bocchetti and Giampaolo Pazzini, so Alan Empereur steps in to the back three.
Young Inter-owned forward Eddie Salcedo is supported by Mattia Zaccagni, Darko Lazovic and Matteo Pessina, the latter fresh from a fantastic back-heel flick goal against Roma.
Atalanta are currently in third place, only one point behind Inter and seven adrift of the Serie A leaders Juventus.
No team has been in better form since the restart and they are gearing up for a fascinating Champions League quarter-final against PSG.
There is a full squad to choose from, as Luis Muriel has now recovered from a nasty knock to the head when he slipped on the edge of a swimming pool, and is on the bench.
Duvan Zapata leads the way with Papu Gomez and Ruslan Malinovskyi, while Mario Pasalic is feeling confident after his career first hat-trick in a 6-1 demolition of Brescia.
If Atalanta find the net, it’ll set a new club record of 22 consecutive Serie A games on target. They are currently on 21, just as in 1955-56.
Verona: Silvestri; Rrahmani, Gunter, Empereur; Faraoni, Amrabat, Veloso, Lazovic; Zaccagni, Pessina; Salcedo
Verona bench: Berardi, Radunovic, Lovato, Badu, Eysseric, Stepinski, Di Carmine, Verre, Borini, Lucas, Dimarco, Terracciano
Atalanta: Gollini; Toloi, Palomino, Djimsiti; Hateboer, Freuler, Pasalic, Gosens; Gomez; Malinovskyi, Duvan Zapata
Atalanta bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Caldara, Sutalo, Tameze, Czyborra, Muriel, De Roon, Da Riva, Castagne, Bellanova, Colley
Ref: Abisso