Sassuolo center back Francesco Acerbi. (Photo : Getty Images)
Bottom dwelling team Hellas Verona (0-9-7, 7 points) hopes to find their first win of the season against mercurial squad US Sassuolo (7-3-5, 26 points) at their home field of Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi this Sunday, December 20 as the 2015-2016 Serie A season continues.
Verona was coming off a four-game losing streak when they forced contending club AC Milan to a 1-1 draw last Sunday at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in San Siro, via Four Four Two.
Luigi Delneri's boys were able to stay at par against the stronger Milan eleven, holding I Rossoneri to a goalless tie after the first half of play.
Milan's Colombian striker, Carlos Bacca, finally was able to score the opening goal at the 52nd minute, but then his Dutch teammate Nigel de Jong was sent off four minutes later after making a foul inside the penalty area.
Mastini captain Luca Toni then converted the penalty kick to equalize the count as the score held up until the final whistle.
Meanwhile, Sassuolo thrashed Sampdoria, 3-1, at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris also on December 6th to finally win after two fruitless tries, as per SkySports.
Francesco Acerbi, Sergio Floccari, and Lorenzo Pellegrini scored one goal each for I Neroverdi at the eighth, 27th, and 38th minutes of the first half to bury I Blucerchiati into a 3-0 lead at the half.
Sampdoria defender Ervin Zukanovic scored a consolation right at the tick of full time to put his team on the board.
The prediction is a tough 2-1 win for Sassuolo.
Verona starting lineup (4-4-1-1 formation): Grassi; Sala, Marquez, Moras, Pisano; Wszolek, Viviani, Greco, Siligardi; Ionita; Toni
Sassuolo starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Consigli; Vrsaljko, Cannavaro, Acerbi, Peluso; Laribi, Missiroli, Pellegrini; Politano, Floccari, Sansone
