View from the Opposition: Hellas Verona

Raffaele Tomelleri is the editor of the Cronaca di Verona. An expert on Hellas Verona, we asked him to run the rule over Sunday's opponents...

Here's what he had to say ahead of the game at the Bentegodi, which gets underway at 18:00 CEST.

What explanation is there for Verona's slow start to the campaign?

"Eusebio Di Francesco tried to follow on from the example left by Ivan Juric, without being Juric himself. So it wasn't Juric's Verona anymore and it was never his Verona either. Having said that, the results looked worse than things actually were, and he probably deserved a bit longer."

How will Hellas change now, with Ivan Tudor in the dugout?

"It will be a tougher, more determined Verona side - and not just against Verona. The spirit will change and probably the formation and some of the players will too."

What are the strengths of this side?

"Right now it's hard to talk about strengths, after three games in which a lot of what they were has been lost - and, of course, Matteo Zaccagni has also gone, the team's best player. Right now there are more doubts about this team than there are strengths to talk about."

How do you think Roma have changed, meanwhile, after the arrival of Jose Mourinho?

"Mou is a great coach, one of those who can completely change a team around. He has personality, charisma, he can motivate, he's tough and he really knows how to get his ideas across to his players. He's Roma's best signing."

Which players would you steal from the Giallorossi, if you could?

"I would have to say Pellegrini, and not just because of the form he's in right now. He's already one of the best Italian midfielders around and with Mourinho he is making that leap to the highest level."

What's your prediction for the game?

"2-0 for Roma: Abraham and El Shaarawy."