MILAN – Ahead of tonight's 2013/14 Serie A Week 28 fixture between Hellas Verona and Inter, here's a selection of facts and figures about the two sides, assembled with the help of our friends at Football Data.
Verona one goal off record Serie A tally
With 43 goals so far this year, Andrea Mandorlini's 2013/14 Verona team are just one away from equalling the club's best highest ever total in a single Serie A campaign: the 44 plundered in 1957/58.
Verona 2013/14 the second-most winning in Serie A
The 3-2 victory over Livorno on 23 February was the 13th of the year for the Gialloblu, matching the club's second highest number of wins in a Serie A season (achieved in both 1983/84 and 1986/87) since a single national championship was formed. The record (15 wins) dates back to 1984/85, the year Osvaldo Bagnoli masterminded Verona's only Scudetto triumph.
Hellas winless at home in 2014, goalless anywhere in 225 minutes
Verona are yet to win at the Stadio Bentegodi since the turn of the year: two draws and three defeats is their recent record on home turf. Their last victory was over Lazio (4-1) on 22 December 2013. It should be noted, however, that those five games have included visits from the top three, Juventus, Roma and Napoli, as well as Torino and Bologna. The Gialloblu have not hit the back of the net for 225 minutes home or away, Toni's 45th-minute strike in Livorno 2-3 Verona being the last time. Since then Mandorlini's side have fired blanks in the second half at the Stadio Picchi and the entire 90 minutes against Bologna (0-0 at home) and Parma (0-2 away).
Toni chasing Bui and Penzo's goals record
With 13 league strikes to his name in 2013/14, Luca Toni is rapidly closing in on the record top-flight haul for a Gialloblu player in a single season, held jointly by Gianni Bui and Nico Penzo. The first netted 15 times in 1968/69, the second the same figure in 1982/83.
Mandorlini on verge of 200th win and 100th defeat in league encounters: which will come first?
Andrea Mandorlini is close to reaching two very different career milestones: his 200th win in professional league matches in Itay and also his 100th defeat. Of his 199 wins to date, 13 have been in Serie A, 98 in Serie B, 52 in Serie C-1/Prima Divisione and 36 in Serie C-2/Seconda Divisione. His first victory came on 4 October 1998: Triestina 4-2 San Donà in Serie C-2. His 99 defeats are divided as follows: 23 in Serie A, 50 in Serie B, 22 in Serie C-1/Prima Divisione and four in Serie C-2/Seconda Divisione. His first loss was Triestina 3-4 Viterbese on 8 November 1998. The clubs he has managed so far are Triestina, Spezia, Vicenza, Atalanta, Bologna, Padova, Siena, Sassuolo and Hellas Verona.
Nine wins, one draw for Inter in last 10 against Verona
Inter have triumphed in nine of the last ten competitive fixtures between these two sides. The only point earned by Verona came at the Stadio Bentegodi on 5 November 2000 (2-2). The Gialloblu's last success over the Nerazzurri was a 1-0 home win in Serie A on 9 February 1992 (Ezio Rossi, 23).
Nerazzurri rearguard enjoying 230-minute shutout
The last goal Inter let in was in the 40th minute of Inter 1-1 Cagliari (a Pinilla penalty) on 23 February. Since then they have stifled their opponents' attacks for a total of 230 minutes: the remaining 50 against Cagliari and the matches with Roma (0-0 away) and Torino (1-0 at home).
29 league outings without a penalty
Inter are the only Serie A outfit not to have been awarded a spot kick in 2013/14. The last penalty given in their favour was on 8 May 2013, Alvarez then missing from the spot in Inter 1-3 Lazio. That was 29 league games ago.
Mazzarri has slight edge over Mandorlini
Walter Mazzarri and Andrea Mandorlini have crossed swords seven times as coaches, with three wins for the current Nerazzurri coach, two draws and two victories for the former Inter defender.
Mandorlini has always lost to former club
This will be Mandorlini's fourth match-up with Inter, having lost the previous three. Mandorlini plied his trade for the Nerazzurri between 1984/85 and 1990/91, making 274 appearances and scoring 13 goals. In that period he won a Scudetto (1988/89), a UEFA Cup (1990/91) and an Italian Super Cup (1989).
Mazzarri unbeaten against Hellas
Walter Mazzarri is yet to lose to Hellas Verona in three meetings as a coach (W2, D1), his sides scoring in each of those games (eight goals in total).
