Seeking redemption after another European embarrassment, Napoli head to Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo to take on Serie A minnows Venezia. It’s the beginning of a new era in Venice after the club sacked Giovanni Stroppa amid Venezia’s disastrous start to the season.

Still the only team in Serie A yet to put a single point on the board, Venezia relieved Stroppa of his duties after a 3-1 defeat at Atalanta last time out. Known as one of the best wartime managers in Italian football, Davide Nicola has taken his place in the dugout and will try to stage an upset on his touchline debut.

Venezia have lost all six league matches this season by a combined score of 16-5, and Napoli’s upcoming visit could further complicate matters for last season’s Serie B champions. Massimiliano Allegri’s men will be keen to make amends for a dismal 3-1 loss at Villarreal in midweek Champions League action.

It’s now two defeats out of two for Napoli at Europe’s top table, but their recent league form can inspire confidence. The Partenopei have won two of their last three Serie A fixtures (D1), including a dominant 3-0 victory over newcomers Frosinone a week ago. However, there’s hardly any room for complacency as they trail table-topping Inter by six points.

Match Preview

Venezia

One of Nicola’s first assignments will be to address Venezia’s defensive problems. The hosts have conceded at least three goals in three of their last four Serie A outings and are one of only two sides to already let in 15+ goals this term. Particularly vulnerable after the break, six of Venezia’s eight home goals conceded have come in the second half.

Indeed, the impending home return after Monday’s thrashing in Bergamo will not necessarily bolster Venezia’s spirits. Nicola’s charges have lost all three home league games this season by a two-goal margin, with two of those three defeats coming against sides stranded in the bottom half of the table.

Perhaps even the most optimistic Venezia fans don’t expect the Lagunari to bounce back against Napoli, especially considering an ominous trend in this fixture. Venezia’s last Serie A win over this opposition came in 1942. Since then, they have gone ten consecutive top-flight clashes against the Partenopei without a win (D4, L6), including a scoreless draw the last time the two sides met here in March 2025.

Napoli

As incredible as it may sound, Napoli have not conceded a goal against Venezia in the top flight since 1962, which probably best illustrates the gap between the teams. That long-standing supremacy becomes particularly important when factoring in Napoli’s league results this season.

Each of their three Serie A wins under Allegri came without conceding, meaning another clean sheet would significantly increase Napoli’s chances for success. Anything less would only intensify the pressure on the former Milan manager amid the club’s worst Serie A start since 2015/16.

There’s hardly a more presentable opportunity for Allegri to find a cure for Napoli’s travel sickness than facing the division’s worst side. However, a three-game winless streak on the road (D1, L2) calls for caution, not least because Napoli conceded precisely three goals in both losses in that stretch.

Team News

Nicola could face a selection headache in his first game in charge as Venezia will be without Marin Sverko, Bartol Franjic, Andrea Adorante, and captain Gianluca Busio. Armel Bella-Kotchap, Thierry Correia, and Napoli loanee Pasquale Mazzocchi are all fitness doubts, leaving the new manager with limited options across several areas of the pitch as he looks to steady the ship against one of Serie A’s strongest sides.

Meanwhile, Alessandro Buongiorno, Antonio Vergara, and Costantino Favasuli are still unavailable for Napoli. Moreover, injury-prone forward David Neres has just joined the injured trio on the sidelines, with Leonardo Spinazzola expected to take his place on the left wing. Scott McTominay should return to the starting lineup after recovering from heart surgery.

Venezia vs Napoli Potential Starting Lineups

Venezia (3-5-2): Stankovic; Moreno, Jesus, Schingtienne; Hainaut, Sohm, Basic, Perez, Sagrado; Yeboah, Adams.

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Meret; Rrahmani, Marin, Badiashile; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; De Bruyne, Lang; Hojlund.

Venezia vs Napoli Prediction

The ‘new manager’ bounce could be the only reason for optimism at Pier Luigi Penzo as Venezia seek a way out of a severe crisis. Despite Tuesday’s setback at La Ceramica, Napoli should have enough quality to return to winning ways and maintain their domestic resurgence.

Prediction: Napoli to Win

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