Venezia vs Inter Milan

Resurgent Venezia play host to defending Serie A champions Inter Milan at the Stadio Pierluigi Penzo.

Coming into this matchday, Venezia have won back-to-back Serie A matches by a single-goal margin, as many victories as they had in their opening 11 top-flight outings this season (W2, D3, L6). As a result, they look to be on course of upsetting the odds and securing another top-flight season. Another triumph here would see ‘I Lagunari’ register three Serie A wins in a row for the first time since 1962. But Venezia’s indifferent home form this Serie A season (W2, D1, L2) casts doubt on their ability to cope with the reigning Scudetto holders. Curiously, though, four of their five home league games this term have seen both teams on the scoresheet, highlighting the potential for end-to-end action. On the bright side, they’ve won five of their 12 Serie A home meetings with Inter (D4, L3).

On the other hand, a hard-earned 2-0 home win over Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek catapulted Inter to the Champions League knock-out stages for the first time in four attempts. What’s more, ‘I Nerazzurri’ are unbeaten in their last five Serie A matches (W3, D2), beating direct title rivals Napoli 3-2 last time out. Simone Inzaghi’s men have found the net in 16 consecutive Serie A travels and are only two matches away from equaling the club’s longest-ever scoring streak on the road set in 1951. But barring a 2-0 win over Venezia’s fellow newcomers Empoli back in late October, the defending Serie A champions have failed to keep a clean sheet in their remaining six top-flight away games this season. Perhaps surprisingly, only five teams have conceded more first-half away goals in Serie A this season than Inter (5).