The Derby della Garda (or Lake Garda Derby) between Verona and Brescia will be played at the highest level for the first time since 2002. Brescia became champion in the Serie B last season and was promoted directly to the highest division. Hellas Verona finished fifth at fifteen points away from Brescia and forced promotion after surviving three play-off rounds. In the mutual matches, Brescia won 4-2 in-house and it became 2-2 in Verona.
Hellas Verona:
Hellas Verona performed above expectations in the first quarter of the season. In game round, for example, two were won from fellow PhD student Lecce, and at the start of this month it won from last-minute player Sampdoria. In addition, a point was taken in the tricky away match at Cagliari (1-1) and the stronger Bologna was held at 1-1.
Last weekend Hellas received the first disappointment. In the first eight matches, three times were lost, this was against a top club (AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli). Now Sassuolo was lost in-house in a fairly equal match. At the start of the second game, the Scaligeri were the parent, but after missing some great opportunities, former Heerenveensplayer Filip Djuricic scored the goal on the other side of the field and decided the game. Verona did end up on the right side of the score midweek. The Gialloblu won 0-1 at Parma thanks to an early goal by Darko Lazovic. Especially in the second half, Parma was the parent, but Hellas managed to keep it close at the back.
Brescia:
Brescia only scored seven points in the first nine games, yet there is no reason to panic. Four of these games were lost to top teams Inter, AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli, each time with only one hit difference. Last Tuesday, the team of coach Eugenio Corini had earned at least one point against Inter but was not happy with it. On the first good shot by Mario Ballotelli goalkeeper Handanovic made a great save after which Lautaro Martinez made a very happy goal on the other side. In the first fifteen minutes after halftime, Brescia overwhelmed the Inter-defense and a goal seemed to stay out. The Rondinelle rained the corners together and were not lucky when Ballotelli almost scored from a scrimmage. On the other hand, Romelu Lukaku scored with a hard shot from outside the sixteen, it was the only ‘chance’ for the Milanese in the second half. Fifteen minutes before time, Brescia made a well-deserved connection goal, but the deficit came to a point.
Although the results against the competition have not been wrong so far, there have been speculations about a trainer change. According to Sky Sports Italy, Cesare Prandelli could soon take over from coach Corini.
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / NO @ 1,84
