Three to Watch: Can Pescara conjure up an upset?

Luciano Spalletti’s are coming off a 4-1 thumping of Viktoria Plzen in midweek, winning qualification to the knockout round of the Europa League.

The Giallorossi will be looking to make it ten straight wins at home against the Delfini, whereas the visitors have lost their last five games. Sitting in the relegation zone Pescara are a team with nothing to lose and everything to hope for; and our columnist believes these three players will need to perform if they are to achieve the unexpected in the capital.

Francesco Zampano

A product of the renowned Sampdoria youth academy, the 23-year-old has been quickly climbing the ladder of Italian football. After stints at Virtus Entella and Hellas Verona, Zampano has been one of Pescara’s most exciting players thus far this term.

Typically deployed as right full-back, he has also started in more advanced roles on the right side and centre of midfield.

Offensively Zampano is adapt to making key passes, though his strongest attributes are in defence – in just 938 minutes played, he has won 20 tackles this season with a success rate of 63%. Further, the Italy U20 international has made 14 interceptions, 21 clearances and completed three blocks.

With a strong showing on Sunday, Zampano can add weight to the perception that he is a top-flight calibre-talent.

Gianluca Caprari

Although the Roma youth product has scored just once and created one assist so far this term, the wing-forward will be doing his best to showcase his experience since leaving home.

Caprari has fought his way throughout Serie B – earning 31 goals in 71 matches – and it is only a matter of time before this form translates into Serie A productivity.

An astute dribbler who uses his acceleration to bypass defenders, Spalletti will be reassuring his defenders that the Deflini’s greatest scoring threat is much more dangerous than his meager seasonal statistics would attest to.

Valerio Verre

Raised in the youth academy at Roma, where he won the Primavera championship in 2011, Valerio Verre now seems to have found the perfect club in Pescara after spells with Siena, Palermo and Perugia.

The midfielder was one of the key men in Pescara’s successful promotion charge back to Serie A last season, scoring in the play-off final win over Trapani.

Massimo Oddo has continued to use Verre on a regular basis this campaign, with the 22-year-old making eight league appearances and chipping in with two goals in the Coppa Italia.

One of several former Roma players in the Pescara squad, the Giallorossi defence will be making sure to keep a close eye on Verre.