VERONA. The return of the Cholito is felt. Simeone is now the nightmare of Venice. In the first leg, his brace had contributed to the great comeback for a pyrotechnic 4-3 final. And in the Bentegodi match it is again the Argentine striker who makes the lagoons cry with a hat-trick of great authority. A game decided by Simeone’s ability to make a difference on his own. Four conclusions towards Romero and three goals to his credit. With such a Simeone, Verona daydreams Europe while Venice chews bitter.
First time convincing then Simeone digs the groove. He knows how to score, the Venice strikers, Okereke aside, are in hiding. And the tactical key is all here. At the start Igor Tudor deploys his classic 3-4-2-1 with some new features: in front of Montipò, the 2003 class Diego Coppola of the Primavera was confirmed among the goalposts in defense, alongside Retsos and Sutalo, with the first two making their debut from holders. Confirmed in block midfield and attack that brought home the draw against Roma in the last championship. Zanetti repeats the 3-4-3 replying with Romero still in goal, the three-way defense with Ceccaroni, Caldara and Ampadu this time in his natural role with Busio back in the median and who takes over Svoboda. Crnigoj and Haps winger in midfield. Forward, from 1 ‘, Okereke is seen in place of Nani.
Tudor who already at 5 ‘is forced to change. Out of the Greek Retsos due to injury, in Ceccherini. Venice tries Haps from the outside, Montipò is present, then guests close to the advantage. On Okereke’s header Montipò can’t get there, he saves Lazovic on the line. But it is still Venice. On the developments of Aramu’s free kick, Ceccaroni tries, Montipò paces with reactivity. Verona rises in tone only in the final with Ilic who tries it from a distance.
Zanetti and Tudor made no changes at the start of the second half where the first ring was from Caprari. Left ready, just as ready is Romero. It is the fuse that lights up the race. Simeone wins the duel with Caldara with determination, enters the area from the left and diagonally beats Romero making his third goal of the season against the lagoons. But for poker it’s only a matter of time. Faraoni breaks the pressing of the Venetians then casually the ball ends up at Cholito who punishes Venice again with a left foot. The guests drift, Romero instinctively saves on Lasagna and holds up a boat that seems to sink. Zanetti notices this and orders a triple change. The Venezia regroups and Okereke on Johnsen’s cross reopens it with a powerful gore. But Simeone is truly in a state of grace and a calamity for Venice. Tessmann makes a mistake in the dribble phase, Lasagna has a leg up for the restart and altruism in serving the Argentine striker who signs the hat-trick with a tense right.