AP Sports Preview

MILAN (Interstat) — Verona hosts Lecce on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in a Serie A matchup at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, with both sides desperate to reverse recent form.

Verona (10th place, 38 points) enters the contest after a 1-0 home loss to AC Milan on Sunday, April 19, extending a troubling stretch. Manager Paolo Zanetti’s squad has lost four of its last five matches, including defeats to Torino (2-1 on April 11), Fiorentina (1-0 on April 4) and Monza (1-0 on March 27). The lone bright spot came on April 6, when Verona thumped Spezia 4-2. Inconsistency has plagued the Gialloblu, who have managed just one clean sheet in their last six outings.

Lecce (14th place, 32 points) also enters on a sour note, following a 1-1 draw at home against Fiorentina on Monday, April 20 that snapped a two-match losing streak. Before that result, the Giallorossi fell 2-0 at Bologna on April 12 and 3-0 at home to Atalanta on April 6. Lecce’s season has featured frequent scoring struggles, including three shutout losses in their last six games. On Nov. 8, 2025, the teams played to a scoreless draw in Lecce, the most recent head-to-head meeting.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-1 draw, but both managers will push for three points to ease relegation concerns. Lecce, sitting just six points above the drop zone, will be without injured midfielder Morten Hjulmand (knee). Verona, with a more comfortable cushion, likely will start leading scorer Cyril Ngonge up front, hoping to exploit a Lecce defense that has conceded eight goals in its last four road matches.

Saturday’s match kicks off at 8:45 p.m. local time. Verona then travels to Juventus on May 3; Lecce visits Pisa on May 1.