Verona opened the season with a resounding 3-0 victory over Napoli, followed by a three-game losing streak. They finally secured three points with a win against Venezia before the international break, currently sitting 12th in the league with no draws and a clear winner-takes-all record. Polish defender Davydovic is injured, and Fraser is likely to be out for a long time. However, Serdar and Brdaric have returned to the squad, and Suslov is back from suspension.

Before the international break, Newcastle United drew away to Everton, with Gordon missing a penalty, extending their winless streak to three games. Their attack has only managed two goals in seven matches, a decline from last season, and their defense has also shown no improvement, conceding goals in every game. However, Newcastle are only slightly behind the second-tier group, two points away from the Champions League qualification zone. International matches have taken their toll, with players like Almiron and Guimarães playing for their national teams, but the squad remains deep.

Venezuela suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Bolivia in their first World Cup qualifier, followed by a draw at home against Uruguay. With only one point from these two matches, they sit fifth in the standings, just one point behind fourth-placed Ecuador, still in contention for direct qualification. Their motivation is high. However, their recent four-match winless streak and single-goal record highlight their weak attack and lack of firepower, particularly evident in their transitions from defense to attack.