Veneziavs.Como

Separated by three points near the foot of the standings, victory would take the hosts level with their visitors from Lombardy.

Match preview

Time could be running out for Eusebio Di Francesco's reign as Venezia coach, with last week's 3-0 beating by Bologna at Stadio Dall'Ara leaving the Lagunari rock bottom of the table.

Their fourth straight loss - in a run featuring just one goal for and seven against - followed a morale-sapping home defeat to relegation rivals Lecce, and they are now four points adrift of safety.

Venezia have scored the fewest goals from open play in Serie A this season - just four so far - and when they do find the net, it often proves beyond them to hold a lead: Di Francesco's side have effectively dropped 14 points from winning positions since returning to Italy's top tier.

As a result, last term's Serie B playoff winners have posted only two victories all season - and none since October - in addition to exiting the Coppa Italia by losing in the first round.

Therefore, the stakes will be high when meeting a direct rival for top-flight salvation. At least history will be on their side this weekend, as they are unbeaten in five games against Como at Stadio Penzo.

Indeed, Como's last league victory in Venice came way back in September 1994 - albeit the clubs' paths have not often crossed since that 1-0 win.

Now, the lakeside Lariani visit the lagoonside Lagunari hoping not to sink further towards the depths of Serie A, following a miserable run of form over the past two months.

One of only four teams without a win in Europe's top five leagues since September, Como have recently joined Venezia in the drop zone.

After being held to a 1-1 home draw by Lombardy rivals Monza last time out, Cesc Fabregas has seen his side's success-free streak extended to eight games - and they still await a first clean sheet of the season.

Having been promoted following investment from wealthy backers - and with the involvement of Fabregas, Thierry Henry and regular Hollywood visitors adding some stardust - much was expected, but reality has since bitten hard.

Venezia Serie A form:

D

W

L

L

L

L

Como Serie A form:

L

L

L

D

L

D

Team News

Venezia will be without Jesse Joronen, Alfred Duncan and John Yeboah due to injury this weekend, while wing-back Francesco Zampano recently underwent surgery on his hand and may not be ready to return.

In Yeboah's absence, Eusebio Di Francesco is set to keep faith with a front line featuring Gianluca Busio and Gaetano Oristanio behind lone striker Joel Pohjanpalo. The latter has scored in each of his last three league appearances against Como (all in Serie B).

Meanwhile, Patrick Cutrone - who found the net against Venezia when the sides met in March - has joined Pohjanpalo in struggling to score goals since October. The Como forward has failed to register in any of his last eight league appearances, after notching four in six to start the season.

Cesc Fabregas is still missing Sergi Roberto and Maximo Perrone, both of whom have been sidelined for several weeks now, but he can welcome back two regular starters.

Not only is centre-back Alberto Dossena available after serving a suspension, but midfielder Luca Mazzitelli - scorer of five Serie A goals for Frosinone last term and a spectacular strike against Lazio earlier this season - should return from injury.

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Stankovic; Idzes, Svoboda, Sverko; Ellertsson, Crnigoj, Nicolussi Caviglia, Haps; Busio, Oristanio; Pohjanpalo

Como possible starting lineup:

Audero; Van der Brempt, Dossena, Kempf, Moreno; Engelhardt, Da Cunha; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Cutrone

We say: Venezia 1-1 Como

Only Lecce have a lower shot-conversion rate than Venezia (7%) and Como (6.9%) in Serie A this season, so goals may be at a premium.

Neither side can keep the back door shut, though, so a low-scoring draw may be the final outcome in this relegation scrap.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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