Chievo Verona vs AS Roma, Preview: Goals galore look likely in Verona
It’s not so boring to watch Chievo anymore. With Zdenek Zeman’s Roma in town, that goes double!
Alberto Paloschi has certainly been making up for lost time, having missed the first three months of the season. In his five appearances since returning from an ankle injury, the on-loan Milan forward has fired in five goals, including a hat-trick at Genoa. He was also on the scoresheet in Sardinia last weekend.
Roma are on a roll and arrive in Verona seeking a fifth league win in a row. Recent meetings have certainly favoured the Giallorossi who are unbeaten in their last 17 meetings with Chievo in all competitions.
It’s highly doubtful that there’ll be a repeat of last season’s 0-0 draw as a scoreless draw is akin to an insult to Zeman and his idea of total football. It should come as no surprise that Roma haven’t registered a single stalemate all season, finding the net in every one of their 16 league games thus far. Chievo currently have the third worst defensive record in the league, but Roma have only conceded one goal less. On that evidence alone, goals look like a given.
A 3-0 Coppa Italia victory over Atalanta in midweek wasn't without problems for Roma, who had Pablo Daniel Osvaldo sent-off for lashing out with an elbow. The capital outfit also lost Mattia Destro to injury, but he resumed training on Friday and may be back in the reckoning to start.
Maarten Stekelenburg is vying with Mauro Goicoechea to take the goalkeeping gloves after the former returned from a thigh injury to put in an impressive performance against Atalanta. Federico Balzaretti is expected to shake off a knock to play, but Daniele De Rossi may have to settle for a place on the bench just like he did in midweek. Erik Lamela could be in contention after being sidelined for three weeks with an ankle injury.
Luciano, Kamil Vacek and Nicolas Frey all miss out for Eugenio Corini's side through injury. A win for the home side will see them move further away from the relegation places and into the safety of mid-table.
Chievo Verona injuries and suspensions
Out: Luciano, Kamil Vacek, Nicolas Frey (injured)
AS Roma injuries and suspensions
Out: Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (suspended)
Match Date/Time: Sunday 16th December 2012 3:00 p.m. local, 9:00 a.m. ET
Venue: Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, Verona, Italy
TV: Sky Calcio 3 (Italy)
