Friday night at the Venezia vs Udinese brings a straight survival test at the Penzo. Venezia sit bottom of Serie A on 3 points after 10 matches, while Udinese are one place above them on 5 points from 10 games. Both clubs have changed manager before this match, with Davide Nicola now in charge of Venezia and Paolo Zanetti taking over Udinese.
Venezia's attacking problem
Venezia's points total is only part of the issue. They have scored just 6 league goals and are conceding at a rate of 2 per game, which leaves little room to control matches through pressure alone. Their 1-0 loss at Como last weekend also extended a run of three straight defeats without scoring.
The shock win over Napoli still sits in the background, but it has not transformed their league position. Venezia are the third team ever to lose at least 9 of their first 10 Serie A fixtures, and the Napoli result now looks more like a brief lift than a turning point.
Udinese's new start under Zanetti
Udinese arrive with their own reset. They lost 5-2 to Roma last week and have lost 7 of their last 8 matches, which is a rough starting point for Paolo Zanetti's first game in charge. Their 5 points from 10 Serie A games is their worst start this century, and 23 goals conceded points to a defence that needs tightening quickly.
The attack has not carried them either, with only 11 league goals so far. Oumar Solet has made 5 Serie A appearances this season, and Udinese will need some stability at the back if they are to turn the appointment into anything more than a short-term reaction.
A result at the Penzo would not solve either club's problems, but it would at least shift the tone. Venezia need points to stay within touching distance of safety, and Udinese need something that stops the run before it pulls them deeper into trouble.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
