Hellas Verona will be looking to make it three straight victories at the start of their 2020-21 Serie A campaign when they travel to an out-of-form Parma on Sunday afternoon.
Verona have beaten Roma and Udinese in their first two matches to put six points on the board, but Parma have made a disappointing start, losing to Napoli and Bologna in their opening two encounters.
Match preview
Parma finished 14th on their return to Serie A in 2018-19 and improved on that position last term, ending up in 11th, which has to go down as a successful campaign under the circumstances.
Roberto D'Aversa was sacked as head coach at the end of August, though, with Fabio Liverani now at the helm, and it would be fair to say that it has been a tough start for the new manager.
I Gialloblu were relatively busy during the summer transfer window, with Roberto Inglese, Yann Karamoh and Alberto Grassi among those to arrive at the club on permanent deals.
The Crusaders suffered a 2-0 defeat to Napoli in their opening match of the new Serie A season on September 20, though, before a 4-1 defeat away to Bologna on Monday night.
Avoiding relegation was always going to be Verona's number one priority last term, but Ivan Juric's side ultimately finished ninth during an excellent campaign, picking up 12 wins from their 38 matches.
The Yellow and Blues have lost young centre-back Marash Kumbulla to Roma this summer but have been active in terms of incomings, and there is certainly a fresh look to the team this season.
Verona actually struggled for wins in the latter stages of the 2019-20 campaign despite their impressive position in the table, but they have started the new season in excellent form.
Indeed, a 3-0 victory over Roma on September 19 was followed by a 1-0 home success over Udinese last time out, with Andrea Favilli coming off the bench to score the winner.
Juric's team are currently fourth in Serie A and will be looking to put another three points on the board ahead of their next game at home to Genoa after the international break.
Parma Serie A form: LL
Hellas Verona Serie A form: WW
Team News
Parma will be without the services of central defender Simone Iacoponi, who is suspended due to the red card that he picked up in the latter stages of the defeat at Bologna on Monday night.
Inglese and Andreas Cornelius are also out until after the international break with muscular problems, meaning that the home side will not be at full strength on Sunday.
Gervinho is expected to keep his spot in the final third, while Hernani, who scored Parma's consolation against Bologna, is again likely to feature in the middle of the park.
Matteo Darmian is on the verge of joining Inter Milan, though, and will therefore not be involved.
As for Verona, Andrea Danzi and Alan Empereur are on the sidelines through hamstring and muscular injuries respectively, while Marco Benassi and Giangiacomo Magnani are both doubts.
The visitors will be hopeful that Samuel Di Carmine is fit, though, with the forward suffering a muscular problem during the first half of the clash with Udinese last time out.
Juric is not expected to make too many alterations from the side that started last time out, meaning that Mattia Zaccagni should keep his position in the final third of the field.
Parma possible starting lineup:
Sepe; Laurini, Pezzella, Alves, Dermaku; Kucka, Brugman, Hernani; Karamoh, Dezi, Gervinho
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Silvestri; Cetin, Gunter, Lovato; Faraoni, Tameze, Veloso, Dimarco; Barak, Di Carmine, Zaccagni
We say: Parma 1-2 Hellas Verona
Parma will be desperate to put some points on the board ahead of the international break, but Verona will enter the match full of confidence due to their excellent start. We are expecting a tight game on Sunday but believe that the visitors will have enough to record all three points.
