Hellas Veronavs.Cesena

While Hellas narrowly survived a relegation scare in Italy's top flight, their Emilian visitors gained promotion back to Serie B in 2023-24.

Match preview

Signing off a tough campaign with a 2-2 draw against champions Inter Milan, victory on the penultimate matchday had already made sure that Verona could celebrate securing their Serie A status in their final league game of the season.

A 2-1 win over already-doomed Salernitana ultimately proved enough to avoid demotion for a fifth straight year, having only escaped via a nerve-jangling playoff 12 months earlier.

Former coach Marco Baroni turned things around at the Bentegodi after bringing in some much-needed recruits in mid-season, and his side accrued 20 points after the winter transfer window slid shut - more than any other team inside the bottom half of the standings.

However, when Lazio came calling, Baroni departed for Rome, and now ex-Empoli boss Paolo Zanetti has been tasked with keeping the Gialloblu away from danger in the upcoming campaign.

After a series of pre-season wins against modest opposition - wrapping their programme up with a 2-1 defeat of Asteras Tripolis - Verona are now only one week away from kicking off the league season at home to Napoli.

First, they return to the Coppa Italia, which they were eliminated from by Bologna in the second round last year, and the Champions League-bound Rossoblu also dumped regional rivals Cesena out of the 2023-24 edition.

Beaten 2-0 at Stadio Dall'Ara in the first round, with Joshua Zirkzee getting his name on the scoresheet, Cesena went on to enjoy a successful season in Serie C, ending in promotion back to Calcio's second tier.

Since bankruptcy in 2018, the Emilian club have had to climb up through Serie D, and after being crowned champions in May, they can now look forward to league games against big names such as Palermo and Sampdoria.

Winning their regional division also earned the Bianconeri a place in the Coppa Italia's preliminary round, and new manager Michele Mignani led his side to a 3-1 win over Padova last weekend.

That victory at Stadio Dino Manuzzi took them through to the first round proper, where they will now step up in class with a tough tie in Verona.

Hellas Verona pre-season form:

Cesena Coppa Italia form:

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Team News

Not only has Italy midfielder Michael Folorunsho returned to parent club Napoli this summer, but Hellas Verona have also lost Juan Cabal to Juventus and Dutch forward Tijjani Noslin, who has followed Marco Baroni to Lazio.

Jackson Tchatchoua and Suat Serdar have made their loan deals permanent, though, and both should be involved on Saturday evening, alongside new striker Daniel Mosquera.

However, Argentinian centre-forward Juan Manuel Cruz will not be available, having undergone surgery following a serious thigh injury.

Cesena's main arrival is the versatile Simone Bastoni, who recently played in Serie A for Empoli and Spezia, and he is set to start at Stadio Bentegodi.

Swedish winger Joseph Ceesay also made his competitive debut for the club in last week's cup win, supporting Cristian Shpendi up front; Giacomo Calo is back in the squad after serving a suspension against Padova.

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:

Montipo; Magnani, Coppola, Dawidowicz, Frese; Serdar, Duda; Lazovic, Harroui, Tchatchoua; Mosquera

Cesena possible starting lineup:

Pisseri; Curto, Prestia, Mangraviti; Ceesay, Berti, Bastoni, Donnarumma; Antonucci, Kargbo; Shpendi

We say: Hellas Verona 1-0 Cesena

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