It’s redemption time for out-of-sorts Milan as they re-embrace their Serie A duties on Saturday when they host newly-promoted Venezia to San Siro. Both teams head into round four in hot pursuit of their first league victory of the 2024/25 season.
September’s international break came to Paulo Fonseca’s rescue. Milan appointed the Portuguese manager at the end of last season, hoping he’d help them go one better than a runner-up finish in 2023/24. However, Fonseca’s return to Serie A has been an unmitigated disaster.
A goal-glutted 2-2 draw at Lazio on the stroke of the international window rounded off Milan’s worst league start in a three-points-per-win era. The 19-time Italian champions couldn’t win any of their opening three Serie A fixtures (D2, L1), pouring tremendous pressure on Fonseca.
Another winless outing would see Milan go winless in the first four top-flight rounds for only the second time in 65 years. Visiting Venezia could be the weapon of Fonseca’s destruction, even though they’ve massively stuttered on their Serie A return.
New manager Eusebio Di Francesco already stares down the barrel of dismissal. After bowing out of the first Coppa Italia round at the hands of second-tier Brescia, the former Sassuolo and Frosinone head coach has overseen a three-game winless league start (D1, L2).
Venezia slumped to a 1-0 home loss to Torino a fortnight ago despite outmatching their opposition’s xG. It was their second straight scoring blank in Italy’s elite football league following a scoreless draw at Fiorentina on their second Serie A travel under Di Francesco.
Match Preview
Milan
There’s a genuine feeling that anything other than three points against Venezia would probably be Fonseca’s final act as Milan manager. The ex-Roma boss must shore up his team’s growing defensive woes, with the Rossoneri conceding at least twice across their last five league outings.
That’s already their worst defensive run since capitulating multiple times in eight consecutive matches in the 1940s. Luckily for under-fire Fonseca, his frontline boasts an intimidating firepower. His charges have netted 2+ goals in their last four league games at San Siro, averaging 3.25 goals per match in that sequence.
Venezia’s upcoming visit can only draw smiles from the home support, knowing Milan have utterly dominated this fixture throughout history. Only one of the 13 previous meetings between these teams at San Siro ended in the home side’s defeat (W8, D4).
Venezia
Venezia’s dire record on this ground promises another long evening for Di Francesco and his underachieving side. Defying that unwanted piece of history requires the Lariani to rediscover their scoring prowess after only bagging one goal in their opening three league contests.
However, Di Francesco’s recent experience against Milan only compounds matters. He has suffered five defeats in his last six managerial clashes against the Rossoneri (D1), fueling skepticism among the traveling fans. Yet, there’s a silver lining.
His team on the day found the net on his last eight visits to San Siro. Since none of Milan’s last 27 games at this venue have ended scoreless, Venezia will likely have to stretch that confidence-boosting streak to return home undefeated.
Team News
Alvaro Morata returned to training on Wednesday but could still make the matchday squad. In his absence, Tammy Abraham should lead the line. Meanwhile, Marco Sportiello, Ismael Bennacer, Malick Thiaw, and Alessandro Florenzi are unavailable for selection because of injuries.
As for Venezia, Bjarki Steinn Bjarkason is the only missing player. The Lariani welcomed talismanic forward Joel Pohjanpalo back to the fold on the eve of the international break. Gianluca Busio also returned to the squad from injury during the pause.
Milan vs Venezia Potential Line-ups
Milan (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Strahinja Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez; Youssouf Fofana, Tijjani Reijnders; Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Rafael Leao; Tammy Abraham.
Venezia (3-4-2-1): Jesse Joronen; Jay Idzes, Svoboda, Marin Sverko; Antonio Candela, Alfred Duncan, Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, Francesco Zampano; Gaetano Oristanio, Mikael Egill Ellertsson; Joel Pohjanpalo.
Milan vs Venezia Prediction
There’s no margin for error any longer if Fonseca wants Milan to have any momentum on their side ahead of a massive week. With the Champions League kick-off and Derby della Madonnina on the horizon, the Rossoneri must take three points here.
We back them to do just that.
Prediction: Milan to Win
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