Serie A

Lecce vs. Venezia, fight for survival

Lecce and Venezia are separated by five points as they face off in a very delicate direct clash

Noon at the Via Del Mare: Lecce will host Venezia in a very important clash. The home side have lost their last five matches and are flirting dangerously with the drop zone, but are currently two points above Empoli who are third from bottom and in action against Cagliari at 15:00 CEST. Venezia cannot afford to slip up after losing to Bologna last week after four consecutive draws which helped them gain two points on the sides ahead of them. A win would help them gain further ground on their rivals and get closer to safety.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Lecce are unbeaten in five games against Venezia in Serie A (W3 D2), while only against Monza (six) have they played more matches without losing in the top flight. Lecce have won their last two matches against Venezia in Serie A (last 25th November and 30th March 2002); only against Brescia (between 2004 and 2010) and Reggina (between 2000 and 2004) have the Apulians achieved at least three consecutive successes in their history in the top division (four against both). Lecce have won both matches at “Via del Mare” against Venezia in Serie A: on 30th March 2002 and 28th November 1999 (both 2-1). Furthermore, between Serie A and Serie B (including playoffs) the Salento side have avoided defeat in 12 of their 14 home matches against this opponent (W7 D5), losing only the first two home matches (between 1930 and 1931 in Serie B).

DID YOU KNOW?

Venezia have won just three of their first 30 games in a Serie A season for only the second time in the competition, after 2001/02, when they also lost their 31st match of that campaign. Lecce are unbeaten in each of their last 11 Serie A games against opponents in the bottom two positions at the start of the matchday (W6 D5), and have won four of their most recent five (D1). Venezia have scored just one goal through their last seven Serie A games (D4 L3) for the first time since the first seven matchdays of 1998/99; furthermore, they have managed just one win across a span of 20 games in the top-flight (D9 L10) for the first time since May 2022. Among teams currently in Serie A, Lecce are the one with the longest ongoing streak of consecutive defeats in the top flight (5). The last time they lost six games in a row in the tournament dates back to April 2023. Lecce (5.9%) and Venezia (7.7%) are the two teams who have recorded the lowest conversion rate in Serie A this season: out of 653 shots attempted by the two teams together (354 and 299 respectively), only 44 have been converted into goals (21 and 23 respectively).

PLAYERS

Between goals and assists, Nikola Krstovic has been involved in 61% of Lecce's goals in Serie A this season (10 goals and three assists compared to 21 Giallorossi’s goals); the highest share of any player for their team. Among players who have played at least 40 games in Serie A in the three points for a win era, Christian Gytkjær is the one who has recorded the highest percentage of them as a substitute: 89% (39 out of 44). Furthermore, the two goals scored in this championship by the Danish striker have come as a substitute, while no player has ever scored more goals from the bench for Venezia from 1994/95 onwards.

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: none Cautioned: Berisha, Rafia, Pierotti, Ramadani, Krstovic (Lecce); Idzes (Venezia)

REFEREE

PICCININI (BACCINI – CECCON) IV: RUTELLA, VAR: MERAVIGLIA, AVAR: SOZZA

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Juventus-Lecce (Saturday 12 April, 20.45 CEST) Venezia-Monza (Saturday 12 April, 15.00 CEST) (Photo Getty Images)