Serie BKT 2026/27 | It ends 2-2 against Catanzaro

Verona - Hellas Verona-Catanzaro ended in a 2-2 draw on Matchday 7 of Serie BKT 2026/27.

Looking back at the match action, Verona struck the first spark in the 5th minute. De Battisti played a long ball for Sarr; Candela cleared, but favored a high recovery by Iannoni. The Gialloblù number 44 darted into the box and struck with his left foot, sending the ball wide of Pigliacelli’s goal.

Just 60 seconds later, Catanzaro responded. Di Francesco received the ball on the left and whipped in a cross for Giovane: a weak, central header that Perilli collected without trouble.

In the 8th minute, Mosquera won a physical duel against Antonini, broke away down the right by skipping past Petriccione, and unleashed a powerful right-footed strike that missed the target. Verona kept up the pressure, continuing to pose a threat near Pigliacelli's net.

In the 9th minute, Calabrese intercepted a loose ball in midfield and nudged it to Le Borgne. The Frenchman drove forward to the edge of the area and laid it off to Sarr, who took a first-time shot aiming for the far post from a good position, sending it high.

Despite Verona’s aggressive start, it was Catanzaro who broke the deadlock in the 11th minute. Di Francesco carried the ball down the left flank and played it into the box for Imperiale, who spread the play to an advancing Candela on the right. The away side’s number 27 struck it first time, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner past Perilli, who stood no chance. Catanzaro led 0-1.

Verona tried to react immediately, picking out Livramento on the right in the 18th minute. The Gialloblù number 14 delivered into the box for Mosquera, who was unable to turn in the center of the area. Off the rebound from the away defense, Bernede gathered the ball at the edge of the box and laid it off to De Battisti, who arrived at pace and struck; the Calabrian backline blocked and cleared. Catanzaro capitalized on the home side's high press to launch a counterattack.

In the 22nd minute, Iemmello played Candela through down the right, where he swung in a cross for Pecorino. The visiting striker beat Calabrese to the ball, but his effort was gathered on the second attempt by Perilli.

In the 24th minute, Le Borgne picked out Sarr out wide on the left. The Gialloblù number 9 crossed for Mosquera, who was anticipated by Ruggero. On the loose clearance, Iannoni pounced with a right-footed strike, firing high over the bar. Hellas kept pushing down the right flank.

In the 27th minute, Zappa drove to the byline, cut back onto his left foot, and crossed for Mosquera: the forward rose above everyone else to head the ball over the crossbar.

In the 33rd minute, another chance fell to Verona. Le Borgne spread the play once more to Livramento, who whipped in a cross from the right toward Mosquera’s run. The number 25 was inches away from connecting, with Candela making a crucial goal-line intervention to put it out for a corner and deny Sarr just behind him.

Verona’s efforts were rewarded with an equalizer. Bernede picked out Livramento with a through ball shifted over to the left wing. The Cape Verde international reached the byline and sent a cross into the center of the box, where Mosquera arrived to beat Pigliacelli on the volley. In the 37th minute, it was 1-1 at the Bentegodi.

In the 43rd minute, Hellas threatened with two back-to-back corners. On the first, Zappa collected Catanzaro’s clearance and crossed back inside for Sarr, who connected with a mid-air split volley, drawing a decisive stop from Pigliacelli. From the resulting corner, Bernede received a short pass from Sarr, skipped past his marker, and struck with his left foot, grazing the crossbar.

Following 1 minute of stoppage time, the first half ended level at 1-1.

In the second half, the opening chance fell to Verona. In the 48th minute, Le Borgne tried his luck from distance with a right-footed strike that comfortably landed in Pigliacelli’s grasp down low.

In the 53rd minute, Mosquera came close to bagging a brace after a one-two with Iannoni: the Colombian striker drove an angled shot that skimmed past the right post of the visiting goalkeeper. Catanzaro resurfaced around Perilli’s goal in the 65th minute with a left-footed strike by Pecorino from the attacking right third, which sailed wide.

Two minutes later, Verona took the lead. Another dangerous corner delivered by Sarr picked out Mosquera in the heart of the area: a header by the Gialloblù number 25 beat Pigliacelli. In the 67th minute, it was 2-1 to Hellas.

In the 74th minute, Catanzaro restored parity. Fed by Pafundi, Pecorino drove into the box and cut inside on Calabrese, who committed a foul, conceding a penalty kick to the Giallorossi. Pecorino stepped up to the spot himself, slotting home a left-footed strike into the opposite corner to level the score at 2-2.

Having exhausted all their substitutions, Verona were reduced to 10 men in the 81st minute when Cerbone, brought on only a few minutes prior, was forced off the pitch due to a physical injury picked up in a tackle.

After 5 minutes of added time, the match concluded with a 2-2 scoreline.

Verona’s next fixture takes place on Sunday, October 25 at 5:00 PM, when the Gialloblù host Pisa at the Bentegodi Stadium for Matchday 8 of Serie BKT 2026/27.

HELLAS VERONA-CATANZARO 2-2
Goals: 11' Candela, 37' and 67' Mosquera, 75' Pecorino (pen.)

HELLAS VERONA (4-3-3): Perilli; Zappa, Calabrese (78' Slotsager), Dawidowicz, De Battisti (78' Cerbone); Iannoni, Le Borgne (78' Harroui), Bernede; Livramento (62' Akale), Mosquera, Sarr (72' Frese)
Substitutes: Leali, Mulattieri, Kastanos, Lella, Fallou, Sezonienko, Ekuban
Coach: Marco Baroni

CATANZARO (4-4-1-1): Pigliacelli; Ruggero, Antonini, Imperiale, Candela; Mosti (46' Tchaouna), Petriccione, Giovane (62' Alesi), Di Francesco (72' Pafundi); Iemmello (72' Arditi); Pecorino (86' Koffi)
Substitutes: Marietta, Postiglione, Buso, Verrengia, Frosinini, D'Alessandro, Dorval
Coach: Giorgio Gorgone

Referee: Mario Perri (AIA Rome 1)
Assistant Referees: Giuseppe Di Giacinto (AIA Teramo), Simone Pistarelli (AIA Fermo)
NOTES. Yellow cards: 41' Livramento, 76' Alesi, 90' Imperiale

Attendance: 18,038