After holding Juventus to a draw one week ago, Verona confirmed their good state of form as they toppled Benevento 3-1 in Serie A’s Monday night game. Antonin Barak sealed a brace for the Scaligeri, who also benefited of a Darko Lazovic’s goal. Gianluca Lapadula, who recently earned his first call for the Peruvian national team temporarily equalized for the visitors early in the second half.
Despite the fourth defeat in six games, Benevento held their own once again. Filippo Inzaghi’s side wasted a few scoring chances and protested vehemently – even too much in the case of Gianluca Caprari who was consequently shown a red card – at a disallowed penalty on the part of referee Juan Luca Sacchi.
Verona, on the other hand, found an unexpected goal-scorer in Barak and were again well protected by goalkeeper Marco Silvestri who came up with at least two fundamental saves to deny the Streghe’s scoring attempts. Ivan Juric’s side reached Inter, Roma, and Juventus at 11 points in the table and on Sunday will challenge top-ranked Milan at the San Siro.
NOI IN CAMPO COSÌ ?
— Hellas Verona FC (@HellasVeronaFC) November 2, 2020
FORZA VERONA ??#DaiVerona #SerieATIM #VeronaBenevento #lastoriAcontinuA pic.twitter.com/bk0ITvR3gf
Juric lined up his men with a 3-4-2-1 formation featuring Antonin Barak and Mattia Zaccagni behind lone striker Nikola Kalinic. Filippo Inzaghi confirmed the same starting XI that had lost to Napoli in the previous match-day.
There were no real changes during the initial 15 minutes. Verona, however, appeared more aggressive and drew first blood from their very first chance: In the 17th minute, Kalinic served Zaccagni on the left side and the Scaligeri’s number 20 whipped the ball in the box for Barak. The Czech midfielder made the best out of his chance to wrap his first goal in the season.
The goal conceded initially seemed to break Benevento’s confidence as Inzaghi’s side continued to suffer Zaccagni and Barak’s pressure. The Giallorossi would, however, eventually manage to show themselves around Silvestri’s area – prompting the Gialloblu custodian to deny twice Roberto Insigne and once Gianluca Caprari. Artur Ionita’s header in the 41st minute seemed to have the best of Silvestri but his header ended out of the target.
⚽️ STARTING XI
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? #HellasVeronaBenevento
? #SerieATIM
??♀️ #ForzaStrega pic.twitter.com/v0Nkbh6P96
The second half opened with the Campanian continuing to attack and eventually finding an equalizer in the 56th minute. Gianluca Caprari set his namesake Lapadula free in the box and the Italian-Peruvian striker could finally beat Silvestri with a sharp right-foot shot.
But right after conceding the first, Verona regained control of the operations as Benevento lost their tempo. Kalinic squandered a delicious assist from Zaccagni whereas Barak was much more effective than him as he slotted home a Federico Dimarco service to put the Gialloblu side ahead again in the 63rd minute.
After Kalinic saw another shot of his denied by the woodwork, along came the episode that was steered the match in Verona’s favor. Gianluca Caprari fell in the box from an alleged Adrien Tameze push. Referee Juan Luca Sacchi disallowed the penalty without even checking the VAR and showed Caprari his marching orders as the former Sampdoria striker continued to protest.
Thus, with a one-man advantage, Ivan Juric’s side could easily widen the gap as Darko Lazovic made it three for Verona from another Dimarco service. Milan are warned, this Verona side should not be underestimated.
MATCH REPORT
November 2, 2020 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 6
VERONA-BENEVENTO 3-1
SCORERS: 17′ Barak (V), 56′ Lapadula (B), 63′ Barak (V), 79′ Lazovic (V)
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VERONA (3-4-2-1): Silvestri; Ceccherini (91′ Gunter), Lovato (47′ Magnani), Empereur (48′ Dawidowicz); Lazovic, Tameze, Ilic, Dimarco; Barak (92′ Colley E.), Zaccagni; Kalinic (86′ Di Carmine) (Pandur, Berardi, Cetin, Gunter, Udogie, Terracciano, Salcedo, Cancellieri) Coach: Juric |
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BENEVENTO (4-3-2-1): Montipò; Letizia, Glik, Caldirola (46′ Tuia), Foulon; Ionita, Schiattarella (74′ Tello), Dabo; R. Insigne (71′ Improta), Caprari; Lapadula (75′ Moncini) (Manfredini, Lucatelli, Maggio, Hetemaj, Viola, Di Serio, Sau) Coach: F. Inzaghi |
REFEREE: Mr. Sacchi from Macerata
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Lovato, Lazovic, Barak, Zaccagni, Magnani (V), Glik, Caldirola, Ionita, Schiattarella (B); Red Card: Caprari (B) Extra Time: 1st Half 0′, 2nd Half 5′
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