Venezia’s Serie A survival is doubtlessly on the road as they meet mid-table Milan in a ‘make or break’ contest at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo. Sunday’s league motion will get underway at 12.30 CET, with Eusebio Di Francesco’s costs in search of three unbelievable factors towards extra esteemed rivals.
Solely a degree separates 18th-placed Venezia from Seventeenth-placed Lecce forward of the kick-off. Nevertheless, it might’ve been the opposite means round had it not been for Tino Anjorin’s 87th-minute equalizer in a goal-glutted 2-2 draw at fellow bottom-half rivals Empoli final weekend.
Empoli’s late fightback maintained a nasty custom that has seen Venezia squander a league-high 28 factors from successful positions this season. Had they managed to retain even half of these 28 factors, they’d be comfortably sitting in mid-table.
As a substitute, Venezia should concern for his or her top-flight standing heading into the final 5 rounds. Ominously, 4 of these 5 matches pit them towards top-half opposition, beginning with Sunday’s assembly with Milan. But, this league marketing campaign has been something however inspiring for the guests.
Stranded in ninth, eight factors adrift of sixth-placed Lazio, Sergio Conceciao’s males will possible search European qualification by means of Coppa Italia glory. Certainly, Luka Jovic’s double inspired Milan to a stunning 3-0 win against bitter rivals Inter within the second leg of their semi-final tie.
In consequence, Milan will lock horns with Bologna of their first Coppa Italia remaining since 2018. In the meantime, they’ll hope to construct momentum within the league and bounce again from a 1-0 dwelling loss to Atalanta final weekend.
Match Preview
Venezia
Regardless of their unenviable place within the Serie A standings, nobody can write Venezia off earlier than the kick-off. Di Francesco’s costs have just lately defied their ‘whipping boys’ tag, avoiding defeat in seven of their final eight aggressive outings (W1, D6), with solely Bologna beating them in that sequence.
It’s price noting that their sole victory in that interval got here towards dead-last Monza on dwelling turf. Venezia’s hope of avoiding instant relegation to Serie B now hinges on successful back-to-back dwelling matches in Serie A for the primary time since January 2000. However they’ve solely received 1 / 4 of their league fixtures at Pier Luigi Penzo this season (W4, D5, L7).
Low scoring has been a typical theme in Venezia’s latest contests regardless of the abovementioned draw at Empoli. Certainly, their final 11 league video games have ended goalless at halftime, with 9 that includes beneath 2.5 whole objectives on the remaining whistle. That highlights the potential for an uneventful affair and the opportunity of dodging one other disaster.
Milan
Milan humbled Venezia 4-0 in September’s reverse fixture at Stadio San Siro, making it 4 consecutive league wins towards this opposition. With three seeing the Rossoneri rating three or extra objectives, they’ll be assured of constructing on a midweek thrashing of Inter as they bid to keep away from their worst Serie A end since having needed to accept tenth place in 2014/15.
Whereas a sub-par run of 1 win from 4 league matches doesn’t bode effectively (D1, L2), Milan can flip to their formidable type towards Serie A’s minnows for inspiration. They’ve received all six encounters towards present bottom-four groups this season, maintaining a clear sheet on 5 events. That bolsters the guests’ quest to beat Venezia ‘to nil’ for a fourth time on the trot.
Although it will possible have little impression on their slim top-six hopes, Milan can not afford to take the season finale flippantly. The ignominy of a mid-table end looms over Rossoneri’s heads, additionally due to their detached away league file in 2024/25 (W7, D2, L7). Moreover, they’ve alternated between successful and shedding throughout their final 4 Serie A highway journeys (W2, L2).
Group Information
Venezia can not depend on first-choice goalkeeper Filip Stankovic and long-term absentees Richie Sagrado and Michael Svoboda. Nevertheless, Daniel Fila returns after serving a one-game suspension and can possible lead the road on the expense of Christian Gytkjaer.
Alternatively, Milan doubtlessly misplaced Matteo Gabbia to damage towards Inter, that means Malick Thiaw might fill the vacant spot in protection subsequent to Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic. With Ruben Loftus-Cheek again from damage, Emerson Royal stays the one high-profile absentee.
Venezia vs Milan Potential Beginning Line-ups
Venezia (3-5-1-1): Radu; Schingtienne, Idzes, Cande; Zerbin, Perez, Nicolussi Caviglia, Busio, Ellertsson; Yeboah; Fila.
Milan (3-4-3): Maignan; Tomori, Thiaw, Pavlovic; Jimenez, Fofana, Reijnders, Hernandez; Pulisic, Jovic, Leao.
Venezia vs Milan Prediction
Conceicao’s formational change has reinvigorated the slipping giants, with Milan exhibiting loads of promise in latest matches, culminating with a scintillating efficiency towards Inter. With nothing to lose, the Rossoneri ought to put relegation-threatened Venezia to the sword.
Prediction: Milan to Win
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