Still in search of their first win since returning to Serie A, Venezia welcome Genoa to Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on Saturday.

The Lagunari sit rock-bottom of the early standings, while their visitors scored a late equaliser last time out and have five points on the board so far.

Match preview

With just one point from four games, Venezia occupy 20th place in the table and have yet to find their feet since gaining promotion through the Serie B playoffs.

After crashing out of the Coppa Italia, the Lagunari were beaten 3-1 by Lazio on Serie A's opening matchday, since when they have not even scored a single goal.

Last week, they lost 4-0 to Milan at San Siro, where the game was effectively over as a contest by the half-hour mark, thereby extending their winless start to the season.

Venezia now have the worst goal difference in Serie A (-7, with one scored and eight conceded), and head coach Eusebio Di Francesco already looks to have a tough task on his hands to keep his new club afloat.

After losing their first top-flight home match against Genoa back in 1939, the Arancioneroverdi are unbeaten in seven subsequent meetings with their Ligurian counterparts at Stadio Penzo, so at least history will be on their side this weekend.

Having comfortably avoided relegation during their comeback campaign, Genoa are intent on securing another mid-table finish in their second season back in the Italian top flight.

Alberto Gilardino's side sit four points above Venezia in the table, following last week's dramatic draw against Roma at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Trailing by one goal in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, the Grifone pulled level with their visitors from the capital via a Koni De Winter header, narrowly avoiding back-to-back home defeats either side of the international break.

That result ultimately brought the downfall of Roma coach Daniele De Rossi, while taking Genoa onto five points from their first four matches.

After attempting to win their first two Serie A away fixtures of a season for the very first time on Saturday, the Ligurians have a big week ahead: first tackling old foes Sampdoria in a Coppa Italia edition of the Derby della Lanterna, then hosting Juventus.

Team News

Venezia boss Eusebio Di Francesco must make at least one change to his starting XI this weekend, as he will be without Hans Nicolussi Caviglia due to suspension, after the midfielder's second-half dismissal against Roma.

That could present an opportunity for Magnus Andersen - who scored the Lagunari's only league goal this season - to partner Gianluca Busio in the engine room, with Gaetano Oristanio supporting Joel Pohjanpalo up front.

The latter netted 22 Serie B goals last term, but he has not scored in his last seven matches - the Finnish striker's longest league drought since moving to Venice.

Meanwhile, Genoa forward Vítinha has attempted the third-most shots in Serie A this season without scoring (nine), and he faces a fight with Caleb Ekuban to partner Andrea Pinamonti in the visitors' attack.

While Mattia Bani is back in action after overcoming a thigh problem, Fabio Miretti, Junior Messias and Brooke Norton-Cuffy are still sidelined by injury.

Venezia possible starting lineup:
Joronen; Idzes, Svoboda, Sverko; Candela, Andersen, Busio, Zampano; Ellertsson, Oristanio; Pohjanpalo

Genoa possible starting lineup:
Gollini; Vogliacco, De Winter, Vasquez; Sabelli, Frendrup, Badelj, Malinovskyi, Martin; Ekuban, Pinamonti

We say: Venezia 1-2 Genoa

Venezia are trying to follow in the footsteps of Genoa, who stayed up with room to spare following promotion, but they have looked a little out of their depth so far.

A leaky back line could leave the hosts vulnerable to conceding multiple goals again, so their wait for a win will go on.


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