Serie A | Gameweek 12

Nov 9, 2024 at 2pm UK

Stadio Pierluigi Penzo

Venezia vs. Parma

Match preview

Just days after staging an incredible comeback to record only their second win of the season, Venezia travelled to the San Siro to face reigning champions Inter Milan last weekend.

The Lagunari had just come from two goals down to win 3-2 at home to Udinese, but the Scudetto holders gave them a stern test.

Trailing 1-0 deep into second-half stoppage time, Marin Sverko looked to have scored a last-gasp equaliser, only for the VAR to rule it out for handball and the final whistle to be blown immediately afterwards.

Last season's Serie B play-off winners have won just twice in all competitions since Eusebio Di Francesco took over in the summer and are languishing in the relegation zone with over a quarter of the season played.

However, Venezia have scored 10 goals in 11 league games, their best tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1962, when they spent most of their time in the lower divisions.

Now, as the Arancioneroverdi attempt to win back-to-back home games in Serie A for the first time in almost 25 years, they will face an opponent who has yet to taste top-flight success in Venice.

Parma were also beaten 3-2 by Venezia in the last Serie B meeting between the two sides at the Stadio Penzo, so they will be looking for an overdue win in more ways than one on Saturday.

On Monday night, the Gialloblu failed to move four points clear of their hosts as they lost 1-0 at home to Genoa, leaving them just outside the relegation zone.

Fabio Pecchia's men are one of seven teams separated by a point at the wrong end of the table, having last won in August and are now 12 points adrift.

As a result, last season's runners-up have drawn each of their last four away games and could be on course for a first-ever run of five consecutive draws in Serie A.

However, Pecchia is intent on picking up maximum points at the Penzo: going toe to toe with a direct relegation rival will raise the stakes, meaning victory would taste even sweeter.

Recent Performance

Venezia Serie A form:

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Parma Serie A form:

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Team News

After making a handful of changes against Inter, Eusebio Di Francesco is expected to recall Gianluca Busio on Saturday, with the USA international set to join Gaetano Oristanio in support of Joel Pohjanpalo.

The Finnish striker has been leading the charge for the Venetians, scoring three of his four league goals this term at the Stadio Penzo; in the last three seasons, no player has scored more goals on home soil between Italy's top two divisions (28).

Once again, Bjarki Bjarkason is the only Lagunari absentee, but Parma will be without a number of players.

Hernani suffered a muscle injury last week, while fellow midfielder Adrian Bernabe injured his hamstring against Genoa and could be out for up to a month.

Bernabe's replacement on Monday night, teenager Anas Haj Mohamed, subsequently sprained his ankle, joining ACL victim Alessandro Circati on the sidelines.

In attack, Ange-Yoan Bonny should link up with Dennis Man, who has been involved in five league goals this term - three of his own and two assists - making him Parma's most prolific player.

Possible starting lineups

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Stankovic; Candela, Idzes, Svoboda; Zampano, Duncan, Nicolussi Caviglia, Haps; Busio, Oristanio; Pohjanpalo

Parma possible starting lineup:

Suzuki; Coulibaly, Del Prato, Balogh, Valeri; Keita, Estevez; Man, Sohm, Mihaila; Bonny