Spezia vs Hellas Verona Prediction, 1/3/2021 Serie A Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Guy Bruhn - 12/30/2020

Game: Spezia vs Hellas Verona

Date: Sunday, January 3, 2021

Location: Stadio Dino Manuzzi in Cesena, Italy

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Spezia (+155) Hellas Verona (+138)

Miguel Veloso and Hellas Verona (5-5-4, 9th in Serie A) travel to Stadio Dino Manuzzi on Sunday where they'll take on Spezia (2-5-7, 17th in Serie A). The expected starting goalkeepers will be Rafael for Spezia and Marco Silvestri for Hellas Verona. The Eagles are at +155 while Hellas Verona are priced at +138. The total opens at 2.5.

Spezia faced Genoa in their last matchup and ended up losing by a score of 2-1. Spezia attempted 9 dribbles in this matchup and converted 5 of the dribbles for a percentage of 55.6%. When discussing the passing game, they finished this match with a 85.9% received passes percentage by connecting on 568 out of their 661 targeted passes in their last match. In regard to shooting accuracy, Spezia ended this match at a 50.0% clip by landing 4 SoT of 8 total shots. Spezia sports an average of 1.36 goals per 90 minutes (19 goals in total) and have accounted for 15 assists in all contests for this campaign.

M'Bala Nzola is a player who should be able to impact this game for Spezia. He has accounted for 2 assists while earning 6 yellow card warnings so far in his pro soccer career. Nzola has had a starting assignment in 31 matchups in his career and scores 0.43 goals per 90 minutes. The forward born in France has racked up 14 goals scored in 2,911 minutes played. Another player who should impact this match is Emanuel Gyasi, the forward who represents Ghana. He has assisted a teammate on a goal 11 times in his pro soccer career while scoring 12 goals. Gyasi has been on the field for 5,374 mins during 62 starts and has earned himself a total of 17 yellow card cautions. He currently averages 0.20 G/90 thus far in his career.

The guy who will defend the goal for Spezia will be Rafael. Rafael (82-42-60 mark during his soccer career) has earned 52 shutouts, which leaves him with a 28.4% clean sheet percentage. The goalkeeper from Brazil has seen 811 shots attempted against him in 183 starting assignments. His goals against per 90 mins is 1.32 (242 goals allowed) and his save % is .708. Rafael has seen the pitch for a total of 16,523 mins and has accumulated 571 saves so far in his pro soccer career.

In their last outing, Hellas Verona took a loss by a final score of 2-1 against Inter Milan. Hellas Verona ended the game with a 75.0% successful dribble percentage by connecting on 6 of the 8 dribbles they tried. They wrapped up this match by connecting on 263 out of their 350 passes they attempted for a rate of 75.1%. Hellas Verona connected on 2 shots attempted out of their 6 shots attempted which had them sitting at a 33.3% clip in their last game. With 13 goals and 7 assists in all their matches, Hellas Verona averages 0.93 goals and 0.50 assists per 90 minutes.

Miguel Veloso should provide solid play for Hellas Verona. The midfielder representing Portugal has been on the pitch for 25,596 professional minutes while scoring 18 goals. He has totaled 76 yellow card warnings during his soccer career and has assisted a teammate on a goal 37 times. He is averaging 0.06 G/90 and has been in the starting lineup in 292 matches in his career. You should also watch out for Mattia Zaccagni, the midfielder representing Italy. He has accumulated 10 goals during his career while helping a teammate on a goal 10 times. Zaccagni has been given 17 yellow cards in 6,601 minutes played (75 starts). His goals per 90 average so far in his career is 0.14.

Marco Silvestri will be residing in front of the net for Hellas Verona. Silvestri has 47 clean sheets and has defended 713 shots against him in 17,966 career minutes. He has a save % of .718 and his clean sheet rate is currently at 23.6%. He has conceded 1.05 goals per 90 minutes while he holds a mark of 61-69-69. So far in his pro soccer career, Silvestri has surrendered 209 goals and has accounted for 507 stops in 199 starting assignments.

Who will win tonight's Serie A game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Hellas Verona (+138)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get all of Today's Free Soccer Picks

Get all of Today's Expert Soccer Picks

Pick:	KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -5.5
Start:	December 15, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #465 Kansas City Chiefs -5.5 over Cleveland Browns (1p.m., Sunday, December 15 CBS) The Chiefs keep winning games and sooner or later one of those wins will come by a comfortable margin. I look for that to be this Sunday against a Browns team that is just playing out the string. Cleveland currently sits at 3- 10 and will enter this game having lost 4 of their last 5 games. Their only win came against Pittsburgh in a snow game on a short week. All 4 of those losses by the Browns have come over the posted number for this game. Kansas City is better on both sides of the football, and I just do not see the Browns offense keeping pace. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend card featuring top plays in basketball, football, and hockey. We will feature our World-Famous Nonconference Game of the Year in College Basketball on Saturday. This game has won 13 of the 15 years it has been in existence and it is a must have for any big game hunter. Read More Read Less

Spezia vs Hellas Verona Prediction, 1/3/2021 Serie A Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

Most Recent Soccer Picks