Preview: Venezia vs. Genoa - prediction, team news, lineups

Facing their second basement battle in the space of a week, 19th-placed Genoa visit Venezia - who sit 18th in the Serie A standings - on Sunday.

The teams convene at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo with the visitors winless in their last 22 league matches, while the home side broke their own streak without success by beating Torino last weekend.

Match preview

© Reuters

After a 10-game run without victory - losing seven times in the process - Venezia travelled to Turin last Saturday amid a worrying descent towards Serie B, from where they were only promoted last year.

Taking on a Torino side with a proud home record to defend, the Lagunari were able to overcome the setback of conceding an early goal to strike back through Ridgeciano Haps and Domen Crnigoj either side of the break.

However, as they had previously shipped the most goals in second-half stopapge time of any Serie A side this season - six in all - they would have feared falling short again in the closing stages.

Head coach Paolo Zanetti saw his team hold on for a precious three points though, and despite a late dismissal for striker David Okereke, they sealed a first victory in all competitions since beating Serie B club Ternana in the Coppa Italia back in December.

Nonetheless, they remain consigned to the bottom three on goal difference (with a game in hand on several of their fellow survival contenders) and the Venetian outfit last won successive league fixtures three months ago - having done so only once throughout the whole campaign.

Zanetti will be acutely aware that the Arancioneroverdi - who have accrued just nine points from their 12 home fixtures - will have to upset the odds several more times if they are to retain Serie A status, but they will start in the rare position of favourites on Sunday afternoon.

© Reuters

Having drawn the reverse fixture with Venezia 0-0 last October, luckless Genoa have shared the spoils in 12 league games so far this term, and no side has drawn more.

As a result, the Grifone have the joint-lowest win rate throughout the top five European leagues, with only 4% of their fixtures ending in victory - or, more plainly, just one win from 25 attempts.

Since taking over from the swiftly departed Andriy Shevchenko, Genoa's third permanent coach of the season, Alexander Blessin, has drawn each of his first three games too.

After last week's 1-1 stalemate against Salernitana - the only team below them in the table - the Ligurians are now winless in their last 22 league matches - the longest run without success in their top-flight history.

If they cannot put a halt to that streak against Venezia, then Genoa could draw four Serie A games in a row for the first time since 1993, but trailing both their opponents and 17th-placed Cagliari by six points, only victory will do.

Team News

© Reuters

Venezia will be hoping goalkeeper Sergio Romero is ready to return to the team on Sunday, as deputy Luca Lezzerini has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a thigh tendon injury.

Both David Okereke and Gianluca Busio are unavailable, too, due to suspension, and they could be replaced in the lineup by Nani and Ethan Ampadu respectively. The latter should revert to a midfield role, as Tyronne Ebuehi is now back from a ban and will come in at right-back.

Recently-signed Czech Republic international Ales Mateju tested positive for COVID-19 last week, and could be sidelined again, but Pietro Ceccaroni also returns from suspension and is set to replace Michael Svoboda at the heart of the hosts' defence.

Genoa, meanwhile, have only Mattia Bani ruled out of the trip to Veneto. His fellow defender Leo Ostigard served a suspension last week, but is now back in contention to start at centre-back in a probable 4-2-3-1 formation.

Up front, Mattia Destro - on nine goals since scoring the opener against Salernitana - could become the first Genoa player to reach double figures in consecutive Serie A campaigns since Tomas Skuhravy managed three in a row during the 1990s.

Both substitutes last week, Albert Gudmundsson and Nicolo Rovella will be vying with several others to start in support of the Grifone's top scorer.

Venezia possible starting lineup:
Romero; Ebuehi, Caldara, Ceccaroni, Haps; Ampadu, Crnigoj, Cuisance; Aramu, Henry, Nani

Genoa possible starting lineup:
Sirigu; Hefti, Vanheusden, Ostigard, Vazquez; Sturaro, Badelj; Ekuban, Amiri, Gudmundsson; Destro

We say: Venezia 0-1 Genoa

As Venezia have struggled for goals at home this season, the greater pressure to perform might see them snatch at their opportunities, allowing Genoa to slip in and claim just their second league win of the season.

Both a raft of fresh faces and a new manager has helped the visitors remain unbeaten since mid-January, and they can now turn their quest for survival up a notch by bringing all three points home from Venice.

Previews by email