After making a fine start to life with Torino, coach Paolo Vanoli returns to Venezia on Friday evening, as the Granata aim to maintain their unbeaten record this season.

Toro have taken four points from two tough Serie A fixtures and progressed in the Coppa Italia, while their hosts are yet to find their feet since gaining promotion.

Match preview

After a two-year absence, Venezia returned to Italy's elite via the playoffs last season, but soon after beating Cremonese in the final, promotion-winning coach Vanoli left for a new challenge in Turin.

Former Frosinone boss Eusebio Di Francesco stepped in to lead the Lagunari's quest for survival, but his side have come away with only one point from two league games so far, in addition to exiting the Coppa Italia.

Following a 3-1 defeat at Lazio on Serie A's opening matchday, Venezia travelled to Florence last week, playing out a goalless draw with Fiorentina in which goalkeeper Jesse Joronen was required to make a couple of crucial saves.

The Arancioneroverdi must now meet another team that finished inside the top half of the table last season, as they reconvene with Torino for the first time since February 2022, when they won 2-1 in Turin. Indeed, they are unbeaten in five Serie A matches against Friday's visitors - a run dating back some 25 years.

Now returning home to Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo - where they posted 15 wins and only three defeats in Serie B last season - Venezia will try to get off the mark with a win at their lagoon-side headquarters.

Having masterminded the Lagunari's rise, Vanoli seems to have made a smooth transition to life as head coach of Torino, particularly as he had some big shoes to fill.

Former boss Ivan Juric took Toro within a whisker of European qualification last term - far removed from their previous relegation struggles - but Vanoli has managed to continue in that vein this season.

After being cruelly denied maximum points by a late AC Milan comeback at San Siro, the Granata overturned another member of Italy's Champions League contingent last week, when they hosted Atalanta BC.

Summer signing Che Adams scored one and set up another as Toro stunned the Europa League winners in Turin - goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic also played a major part by parrying a stoppage-time penalty.

Also considering a 2-0 cup win over Cosenza earlier this month, Torino have made an impressive start, so they carry plenty of momentum into their final fixture before the international break.

Team News

After missing both of their opening Serie A matches with a thigh problem, Venezia's main marksman Joel Pohjanpalo could be passed fit for Friday - the Finnish striker scored 22 times in Serie B last season.

At best, he would begin on the bench, so Christian Gytkjaer should still start up front, with support from Nicholas Pierini or Gaetano Oristanio.

Midfielder Hans Nicolussi Caviglia recently joined the Lagunari on loan from Juventus; as Mato Jajalo and USA internationals Gianluca Busio (injured) and Tanner Tessmann (leaving for Lyon) are all unavailable, he may make his home debut.

Meanwhile, Torino's attack could be unchanged, as Che Adams surely moved ahead of Antonio Sanabria in the pecking order with his performance last week.

The Scotland striker should link up with Toro captain Duvan Zapata in the final third, particularly as Nikola Vlasic is still sidelined by injury and Pietro Pellegri has just joined Empoli.

Dutch defender Perr Schuurs will not be back in action until November, but loan signing Borna Sosa - who arrived after fellow wing-back Raoul Bellanova recently left for Atalanta - can contend for his first start.

Venezia possible starting lineup:
Joronen; Altare, Idzes, Sverko; Candela, Duncan, Nicolussi Caviglia, Zampano; Oristanio, Ellertsson; Gytkjaer

Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Tameze, Coco, Masina; Lazaro, Ricci, Linetty, Ilic, Sosa; Adams, Zapata

We say: Venezia 1-2 Torino

Building on a strong base from last season, Torino look in good shape at the start of their 2024-25 campaign and are well-placed to punish any Venezia errors.

In addition to a robust defence, Toro's attack can be efficient - they have already put a total of four goals past Milan and Atalanta.


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