Inter to take on Venezia in pursuit of top spot

Venezia will host Inter Milan at 15:00 CET on the first day of the second half of the season. The Lagooners, who have lost only once in their last five matches, are coming off a draw against Empoli and are looking for more points against Inter. Simone Inzaghi's team cannot afford any missteps, as they are looking for their sixth consecutive victory in the league to quickly forget the defeat in the EA SPORTS FC Supercup derby and remain at the top of the table while waiting for the return of injured players.

HEAD TO HEAD

Inter have won each of their last three games against Venezia in Serie A and only once have they achieved four consecutive wins against Venezia in the top flight: a streak of five between November 1962 and January 1999. Inter have scored 51 goals in 27 games played against Venezia in Serie A; only against Juventus (54) have the Venetians conceded more goals than against the Nerazzurri in the top flight (51 also against AC Milan). After Inter's 2-0 win at the Penzo stadium on 27th November 2021, Venezia could suffer consecutive home defeats against the Nerazzurri in the top flight for only the second time in their history, after the period between 1963 and 1967 (exactly two in that case). In addition, only once have they failed to score in consecutive home matches against the Nerazzurri in the competition: a 0-0 draw and a 0-2 defeat between 1941 and 1943.

DID YOU KNOW

Venezia haven’t lost in their last three league games at the Penzo stadium (W1 D2), the Venetians could register more consecutive home matches without defeat in Serie A for the first time since December 2001 (four under Giuseppe Iachini). Inter are one of only two teams, with Juventus, that are unbeaten in away games in Serie A this season; the Nerazzurri have won each of their last five away league games without conceding goal (18-0 overall). They could register six away wins in a row whilst keeping a clean sheet for the first time in their history in Serie A. Inter have scored the joint-most goals via corners in Serie A this season (six, level with Parma and Udinese), on the other hand, Venezia have conceded the most such goals (seven).

PLAYERS

Gaetano Oristanio grew up in Inter's youth sector even though he never made a debut in an official match with the Nerazzurri first team. He has 37 dribbles completed in the current league season, a joint-record, level with Rafael Leão. Lautaro Martínez has been involved in 25 goals in his last 25 matches against newly promoted opponents in Serie A (20 goals and 5 assists). In addition, in the last two seasons (since 2023/24), Lautaro (20) is one of only two players with at least 20 goals in away games in the Big-5 European leagues, with Kylian Mbappé (22).

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: none Cautioned: Zampano (Venezia); Dumfries, Inzaghi (Inter)

REFEREE

PICCININI (BERTI – VECCHI), IV: FELICIANI, VAR: PATERNA, AVAR: GUIDA

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Parma-Venezia (Sunday 19 January, 15.00 CET) Inter-Bologna (Wednesday 15 January, 20.45 CET) (Photo Getty Images)