Sunday 032 Serie A: Verona vs. Como, the tactical game between the relegation life and death battle and the final battle between the middle game

At 2:45 am on May 19, the focus of the 37th round of Serie A started at the Marco Antonio Bentgodi Stadium, with Verona facing Como at home. This game is not only a direct dialogue between the relegation team and the mid-level team, but will also test the true strength of the two teams in tactical adjustments and on-site responses. The following is an in-depth analysis from the dimensions of the standings, core injuries, tactical games, historical confrontations, etc. All information is based on the official Serie A website and team announcements to ensure that it is authentic and verifiable.

1. Scoreboard situation: Verona's life is hanging on the line, Como has no desires and no desires

Verona is currently ranked 18th with 7 wins, 10 draws, 20 losses and 31 points, deeply trapped in the relegation zone, leading only 1 point in the safe zone, and the pressure to relegate is huge. The team has 1 win, 1 draw and 4 losses in the last 6 league games, scoring 6 goals and conceding 11 goals, and has serious problems on both offense and defense, especially in the away game, with an 8-game losing streak, with a home winning rate of only 25% (6 win, 3 draws and 10 losses). Cuomo ranked 13th with 9 wins, 9 draws, 14 losses, 36 points, leading the relegation zone by 12 points, and has successfully relegated ahead of schedule. The team has 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in the last 6 league games, scoring 7 goals and conceding 7 goals. The away performance is relatively stable, and has 1 win, 3 draws and 1 loss in the last 5 away games, showing a certain degree of resilience.

2. Core injuries and suspension impact: Verona's midfield failed, Como's rotation was tight on the wing

Verona: The core of the midfield is absent, and the defense is frequently leaked

According to the official Serie A injury report and the "Milan Sports Daily", Verona encountered the most severe personnel crisis of the season:

Midfield control collapsed: the absence of main midfielders Abdou Harroui (cruciate ligament rupture, season reimbursement) and Suat Serdar (thigh injury, expected to return on May 31), resulting in a 30% reduction in the interception ability of the midfield, making it difficult to effectively cut off Como's midfield transmission.

The forward relies on single: Main forward Casper Tengstedt (ankle injury, expected to return in mid-May) is in doubt, and his contribution of 8 goals this season (4th in the league) and fulcrum role (2.1 successful top-scoring matches per game) are difficult to replace, and the forward relies on the combination of 21-year-old Mathis Lambourde (3 goals) and Jackon Tchatchoua (2 goals).

Insufficient experience in defense: Main center back Martin Frese (grip injured, expected to return on May 25) was absent, forcing 22-year-old substitute Federico Ceccherini (only 8 appearances in the league) to be appointed in a critical moment. His partner Darko Lazovic's success rate is only 52%, ranking fourth from the bottom in the league.

Como: The game is suspended on the wing, the midfield reorganization

Como also faces a shortage of people at key positions:

The offensive and defensive paralysis on the wing: The main winger Nico Paz (suspension) and Dele Alli (red card suspension) are absent, the offensive and defensive system on the right collapses directly, and the substitute right back Álex Valle (averages 0.8 crosses per game) lacks experience and may be targeted by Verona.

Defense Rotation Pressure: Main central defender Marc Oliver Kempf (muscle fatigue) is likely to be a substitute. His central defender partner with Edoardo Goldaniga was once the cornerstone of defense (averages of 2.8 interceptions per game). Substitute central defender Iván Azón (21 years old) may become a loophole.

Recovery on the wing: Gabriel Strefezza and Lucas da Cunha returned from injury. The two contributed a total of 5 goals and 4 assists this season. The ability to break through the wing (period 1.8 successful passes per game) may become the key to breaking the situation.

3. Recent status comparison: Verona is weak at home, Como's away resilience

Verona: The offense and defense are imbalanced under the pressure of relegation

Verona has a 16.7% winning rate in the last 6 league games, and its home performance is particularly bad, with 1 win, 1 draw and 3 losses in the last 5 home games, and averaging 2.2 goals per game. The offensive end has been significantly affected by injuries, with only 3 goals in the last five games and 2 clean sheets; the defensive end conceded goals on the right accounted for 45%, and the assisted loopholes between Ceccherini and Lazovic may be targeted by Cuomo forward Patrick Cutrone (6 goals). However, the team's score rate reached 33% when lagging behind (No. 6 in the league), showing a certain degree of resilience.

Como: The midfield team's condition has recovered

Como has achieved 1 win, 3 draws and 2 losses in his last 6 away games, scoring 5 goals and conceded 6 goals. The offensive end relies on Cutrone's fulcrum role (performed 2.4 aerial confrontations per game) and Gabriel Tadeu's speed (31km/h). The two have contributed 3 goals in their last 5 games, accounting for 60% of the team's total goals. The team adopts a 4-2-3-1 formation, with midfielder Maxence Caqueret (2.1 steals per game) and Lucas da Cunha (1.9 key passes per game) controlling the rhythm, but the success rate of high-altitude top-square-level defense line has dropped by 18%, and the cross from the wing against Verona may become a loophole.

4. Tactical style analysis: Verona defends against counterattack to survive, Como crosses on the wing to seek change

Verona: 5-3-2 formation shrinks the defense line, relying on sneak attack on the wing

Zaffaroni is expected to continue using the 5-3-2 formation, and the three central defenders Ceccherini, Lazovic, and Mattia Zaccagni need to undertake more auxiliary defense tasks. Midfielder Hernani and Alberto Grimaldi form a double midfielder, focusing on intercepting Como's penetration in the middle. In the counterattack, wingers Dailon Livramento (performed 1.2 times per game) and Grigoris Kastanos (speed 31.2km/h) will hit the gap behind the Como wingback, but the two have only contributed 1 goal in the last five games, and the ending efficiency is worrying.

Como: 4-2-3-1 Form adjustment, enabling Strefezza to organize

Bircham may allow Gabriel Strefezza (5 goals and 4 assists) to replace Nico Paz as the right winger, forming a new midfield triangle with Caqueret and da Cunha. Offensively, Cutrone and Tadeu will continue to dominate the "one high and one fast" combination. The two scored 7 goals through crosses from the wing this season, accounting for 21% of the total goals. But after Paz is out, the team's midfield advancement may drop, and it will depend on Strefezza's personal breakthrough to create opportunities.

5. Historical confrontation and psychological game: Como has the advantage, Verona has been looking forward to an upset at home

In the last 10 confrontations, Como has the advantage with 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses, of which he has remained unbeaten in the last 3 away games. In the first leg of the season, Como narrowly defeated Verona 3-2 at home, Cutrone scored the winning goal, but Verona's counterattack efficiency (one shot right away) sounded the alarm for Como's defense line. However, Verona tied Cuomo 1-1 at home in January 2025, breaking the previous record of losing streak at home, and was not completely at a disadvantage psychologically.

VI. Official dynamics and on-site variables

Verona: Relegation and death battle, tactical stability becomes the key

Verona officially confirmed that it will continue the tactical framework of "retracting the defense line + quick counterattack". Zaffaroni mentioned that "in the face of Como, you need to be patient and use the speed of the wing to create murderous intent", and confirmed that the wounded personnel such as Tengstedt and Serdar will be absent, but it is not clear whether Livramento will come back. Although this conservative strategy can alleviate the defensive pressure, it may further compress the offensive space, especially when facing Cuomo's high-pressure pressing.

Como: No desires and no desires, the recovery of the wings becomes the key

Como official emphasized that Strefezza will undertake more organizational tasks. Bircham mentioned that "Strefezza's creativity and Caqueret's interception ability can make up for the vacancies in Paz", and confirmed that the wounded personnel such as Kempf and Azón will be absent, but it is not clear whether Tadeu will start. Although this adjustment strategy can maintain midfield vitality, it may weaken the defensive hardness, especially when facing Verona's counterattack.

7. Summary and Special Tips

Although Verona has home advantage and relegation intention, his absence from the midfield core and lack of experience in defense have made his offense weak and defensive loopholes frequently appear. Despite the wing suspension and away weak, Cutrone's defensive counterattack tactics are mature, Cutrone's personal ability and Strefezza's wing breakthrough are still threatening, and the away resilience remains in historical confrontations.

Special Tips: The on-the-spot starting lineup announced 1 hour before the game may have a significant impact on the game trend. For example, whether Verona enables Livramento to enhance the wing breakout, whether Cuomo takes the risk of Kempf coming on stage, etc. It is recommended to obtain the latest information through the official Serie A website or the official team channels in order to more accurately judge the game situation. Let's wait and see whether this Serie A focus game that concerns relegation is whether Verona scores at home to prosper his life or whether Como escapes away from home.