Serie A

Venezia vs. Fiorentina, survival and Europe

Venezia need three points against Venezia as they look to escape the relegation zone

A vital match awaits at the Penzo, where Venezia are set to face Fiorentina. The hosts have lost just two of their last ten matches and, after their draw against Torino last week, now want three points to significantly boost their chances of avoiding the drop. However, Fiorentina also need to win after their defeat to Roma last week, a result that put an end to a six-game unbeaten run. The Viola want to bounce back to stay in the European fight until final minute of the final matchday.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Venezia have avoided defeat in five of their last eight Serie A matches against Fiorentina – four wins, one draw and three defeats – after suffering eight defeats in their previous nine league meetings (W1). Venezia have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four league matches against Fiorentina, including the reverse fixture (0-0): it’s one more shutout than the Lagunari managed in all of their previous 23 encounters against the Viola in Serie A. Fiorentina are the side against which Venezia have won the most home games in Serie A: eight out of a total of 13 (D1 L4), including each of their last four in the competition.

DID YOU KNOW?

Fiorentina have lost six of their last 10 away games (W2 D2) in Serie A – as many defeats as in their previous 19 (W8 D5). In this period (since mid-December), only Empoli (7) and Monza (10) have suffered more such defeats in the competition than the Tuscans. All four of Venezia’s Serie A victories this term have come at home, the last one in April against Monza. Indeed, the Venetian team have collected the highest percentage of their points at home in the division: 65%, 17 out of 26 overall. Fiorentina lost their last league match against Roma without scoring and could suffer back-to-back defeats in a row without scoring for the second time this season, after also doing so in February. Fiorentina have the highest ratio between touches in the opposition box and goals scored: one goal for every 13 touches. On the other hand, only Lecce have so far recorded a worse such average (24) than Venezia (one goal for every 22). Following his goal against Torino, Kike Pérez became the second Spanish player to score for Venezia in Serie A, after Juan Santisteban Troyano (two goals in 1961-62). The midfielder is looking to score in successive games for the first time in his career in the big five European Leagues.

PLAYERS

Among defenders who have played at least 2000 minutes, only Ardian Ismajli has been dribbled past less times (just 3) than Luca Ranieri (4) in Serie A this term. Moise Kean has been involved in 20 goals (17 goals, 3 assists) in this league campaign; however, the Fiorentina striker has not been involved in a goal in his last two games in the competition, and could go three games in a row without having a hand in a goal for the first time with Fiorentina in Serie A.

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: Zaniolo (Fiorentina)(2) Cautioned: Cande, Idzes, Perez (Venezia); Fagioli, Folorunsho, Mari, Beltran (Fiorentina)

REFEREE

MARCHETTI (MELI – ALASSIO) IV: DI MARCO, VAR: DI BELLO, AVAR: MARINI

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Cagliari-Venezia Fiorentina-Bologna (Photo Getty Images)