Serie A | Gameweek 19

Jan 4, 2025 at 2pm UK

Stadio Pierluigi Penzo

Venezia vs Empoli

Match preview

Despite Filip Stankovic stopping Romelu Lukaku's penalty and pulling off several other sharp saves, Venezia ultimately succumbed to a 1-0 loss in their first post-Christmas fixture last weekend.

Napoli struck late on to end the Venice side's three-match unbeaten run and leave Eusebio Di Francesco's men languishing in the bottom three at the turn of the year.

However, last season's Serie B play-off winners have shown clear signs of improvement, with successive 2-2 draws at the start of December culminating in a 2-2 draw with relegation rivals Cagliari at the Stadio Penzo last time out.

The Lagunari, who have spent most of the last two decades in the lower divisions, have not won back-to-back Serie A games since January 2000 - when ex-Empoli and current Italy coach Luciano Spalletti was in charge - but they will be hoping to do so this weekend.

Hoping for a similar result to last year's opening game - a 5-3 win over second-tier Sampdoria - the Bianconeri will face Empoli for only the fifth time in the top flight, where they remain unbeaten.

With two defeats and two draws in four Serie A encounters between the two sides, Empoli will be keen to end that drought - and, more importantly, get their promising season back on track.

Last week's 2-1 defeat to Genoa at the Stadio Carlo Castellani was the third successive defeat for the Bianconeri, who now sit 12th in the standings, just five points above the relegation zone.

The Azzurri's home form has been dismal, even amid a bright start to the 2024-25 campaign that has seen a team that struggled to survive last season briefly break into the top eight, but their away record is far better.

Prior to their recent slump, Empoli had lost just one of their six away games, largely due to the quality of the opposition in front of them.

Despite losses to AC Milan at the San Siro and Atalanta BC in Bergamo, Roberto D'Aversa's Coppa Italia quarter-finalists will be hoping to leave Venice with maximum points on Saturday.

Recent Performance

Venezia Serie A form:LLDDWL

Empoli Serie A form:DLWLLL

Empoli form (all competitions):LWWLLL

Team News

Venezia's injury list remains unchanged for the 2025 edition, with long-term absentee Michael Svoboda joining Alfred Duncan, Richie Sagrado and Antonio Raimondo on the sidelines.

Eusebio Di Francesco may therefore consider naming an unchanged XI, but there is plenty of competition for Franco Carboni's place on the left flank, with last season's Serie B top scorer Joel Pohjanpalo set to replace John Yeboah up front.

Gaetano Oristanio, who will link up with the home side's lone frontman, has been involved in two goals in his last two games at the Stadio Penzo.

Despite missing a crucial penalty last week, Empoli's Sebastiano Esposito has become the youngest player to reach the five-goal mark in Serie A this season, with the Inter Milan loanee scoring five of his six goals away from home, including three in his last two outings.

He should partner Lorenzo Colombo in the Azzurri's attack, but it remains to be seen whether another highly-rated young striker, Jacopo Fazzini, will be involved amid talk of a move to Lazio in the winter transfer window.

Roberto D'Aversa will be keen to include him as the visitors' list of absentees remains long: Pietro Pellegri, Ola Solbakken, Szymon Zurkowski, Tyronne Ebuehi, Nicolas Haas, Saba Sazonov and Mattia Viti are all unavailable.

Possible starting lineup

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Stankovic; Altare, Idzes, Sverko; Zampano, Andersen, Nicolussi Caviglia, Ellertsson; Oristanio, Busio; Pohjanpalo

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Pezzella; Gyasi, Anjorin, Grassi, Henderson, Cacace; Esposito, Colombo