Hellas Verona vs Torino preveiw - Verona eyeing more shock success
Posted Monday, February 17, 2014 by PA
Torino will have to raise their game if they are to have any chance of overcoming surprise package Hellas Verona on Monday.
The men from Verona have made their mark since gaining promotion to Italy's top flight in the summer.
Few would have expected Hellas to be sixth in the Serie A standings after 23 games and with 36 points so far.
Andrea Mandrolini's men have shown a fighting spirit and a hunger which has earned them the respect of their opponents.
Hellas showed last weekend why they are a team that cannot be underestimated.
Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Hellas hit back to earn a 2-2 draw against Serie A leaders Juventus.
"I have to congratulate my players," Mandorlini said.
"It was a lost game but my team fought until the end and we got a good result against a very strong side. We are doing really well."
Despite his team being level on points with fifth-placed Inter Milan, who hold the last European qualifying spot, Mandorlini insists their only priority this season is to avoid the drop.
"I am only thinking about passing the 40-point mark to secure our Serie A status," Mandorlini said.
"We need two more wins in order to achieve our aim.
"Our focus right now is on our match against Torino."
Hellas have won eight and lost three of their 11 games at home this season.
Rivals Torino are two places and three points behind Hellas.
The Granata travel to Verona looking to bounce back from last Sunday's surprising 2-1 defeat to Bologna.
The loss was Torino's first at home since September 29.
"This defeat should be a lesson to us that we cannot take any rival lightly," Torino striker Ciro Immobile said.
"We were ahead and controlled the game only to allow Bologna to bounce back and beat us.
"Now we need to focus on our next match and try to improve before the derby."
The Granata, coached by Giampiero Ventura, face Juventus in the Turin derby after their trip to Verona.
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