Serie A | Gameweek 8

Oct 20, 2024 at 2pm UK

Stadio Pierluigi Penzo

Venezia vs Atalanta

Match preview

It was almost inevitable that Atalanta's in-form striker Mateo Retegui would end his campaign with a hat-trick against his former club Genoa - followed by two goals in two games for Italy - as La Dea romped to a 5-1 home win last time out.

Gian Piero Gasperini's men have now scored 16 Serie A goals this term, including a 3-0 thrashing of Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe, which has gone some way to making up for their defensive shortcomings.

That tally not only puts them level on points with reigning champions Inter Milan, but is also the Bergamo club's fourth-best tally at this stage of the campaign.

However, Atalanta's attempt to build on last season's Europa League triumph by challenging for a first Italian title has been undermined by inconsistency, and they sit in eighth place after seven league games.

Gasperini will not have to look far to find their main weakness: the Nerazzurri have won just one of their first four away games in Serie A, conceding an average of almost two goals per game on the road.

However, they will travel to Venice with the weight of history behind them, having won all five of their last top-flight meetings with Venezia, including the last two at the Stadio Penzo.

With five defeats from their opening seven games, Venezia find themselves in the Serie A relegation zone and face a long battle to avoid an automatic return to the second tier.

After Paolo Vanoli led them through the Serie B play-offs, his departure to Torino saw Eusebio Di Francesco take over, but the Lagunari could now be heading down the same path as his relegated Frosinone side last term.

Two of Di Francesco's former clubs, Roma and Hellas Verona, both suffered narrow defeats just before the break, with both games decided by late victories.

That has left him clinging to his job ahead of Atalanta's arrival, as the Arancioneroverdi look to record back-to-back home wins in Serie A for the first time since January 2000, when current Italy coach Luciano Spalletti was briefly in charge.

With their latest visitors having scored the most goals from set-pieces this season, while the Venetians have conceded the most (seven apiece), Di Francesco and co will have been working overtime on the training pitch in preparation for Sunday's clash.

Recent Performance

Venezia Serie A form:DLLWLL

Atalanta BC Serie A form:LLWLDW

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):WDLDWW

Injuries and suspensions

Venezia

19 Bjarki Bjarkason

Atalanta

42 Giorgio Scalvini

3 Odilon Kossounou

19 Berat Djimsiti

22 Matteo Ruggeri

9 Gianluca Scamacca

Possible starting lineups

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Joronen; Idzes, Svoboda, Sverko; Candela, Ellertsson, Nicolussi Caviglia, Zampano; Busio, Oristanio; Pohjanpalo

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:

Carnesecchi; De Roon, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Ederson, Pasalic, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui