Udinese - Hellas Verona preview - Hellas hoping to halt losing streak

Struggling Hellas Verona will look to avoid their fourth-straight league defeat when they travel to Friuli to face Udinese on Sunday afternoon.

The Verona outfit have not won since beating Cagliari 1-0 on October 4 and have taken three points since.

Last weekend's 3-1 home reverse to Sampdoria dropped Hellas to 15th place, three points clear of the relegation zone.

Hellas coach Andrea Mandorlini admits his players are going through a difficult spell but is confident they will get back on track.

"We are all responsible and we all need to do a lot more," Mandorlini told Gazzetta dello Sport. "My players are working hard in training and I believe we will come out of this negative period.

"Our focus right now is on the game in Udine.

"It will not be an easy game with Udinese having won at Inter Milan last time out. But I believe my team can do well."

Udinese halted a five-match winless run with a 2-1 triumph at Inter last weekend.

The outcome was their sixth win of the campaign and lifted the Bianconeri to eighth in the standings.

"This victory is further proof that this group is united," Udinese coach Andrea Stramaccioni said. "You don't play at the San Siro the way we did without a united group.

"We deserved the win and these three points are important for our morale.

"Now we must give continuity to this result."

Udinese have lost just once at the Friuli stadium this season.

The hosts will be without defender Maurizio Domizzi, who serves a one-match ban, while Hellas must overcome the absence of Mexican defender Rafa Marquez, who is suspended.