Venezia vs Napoli Preview: Winless Venezia Look to Halt Their Slide Against Napoli

Match context & stakes

Venezia host Napoli at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo in Venice on 17 October, with kickoff at 16:00 Doha time. The hosts sit bottom of Serie A, 20th and still without a point after six matches, with a goal difference of -11 that reflects their struggles at both ends of the pitch. Napoli, eighth with 10 points, have stayed competitive in the early weeks and will look to press their case for a place among the division’s stronger sides.

Form guide

Venezia have lost all five of their most recent league matches. Across six games they have scored five times and conceded 16, and their home form has been particularly poor: three defeats from three at the Penzo, with only two goals scored there. Over their last five matches they have conceded 14 times, an average of close to three per game.

Napoli have been far more productive. Their league record reads three wins, one draw and two defeats from six matches, with 10 goals scored and six conceded. Away from home they have won one, drawn one and lost one, and over their last five games they have found the net eight times while conceding six.

Head-to-head

The recent history heavily favours the visitors. Napoli have won three of the last four meetings between the sides, with the other ending 0-0. Their most recent visit to Venice in March 2025 produced a goalless draw, while Napoli claimed a 2-0 victory away at Venezia in February 2022. Venezia have not beaten Napoli in any of these four encounters.

Team news

Venezia will be without four players who are ruled out of the fixture: A. Adorante (hernia), G. Busio (thigh injury), B. Franjic (shoulder injury) and M. Sverko (hip injury). Three more, A. Bella-Kotchap, T. Correia and P. Mazzocchi, are carrying fitness concerns with thigh and calf problems.

Napoli also face an injury list. A. Buongiorno (knee injury), C. Favasuli (thigh injury) and A. Vergara (calf injury) will miss the trip to Venice. Alisson Santos (muscle injury), F. Anguissa (groin injury) and M. Olivera (groin injury) are also in doubt and will be assessed before kickoff.

Our prediction

Venezia have been the division’s most toothless side and their defensive problems have been compounded by a growing list of absences. Napoli have scored at a far better rate, have won three of the last four meetings with this opponent, and should have enough quality to control large spells of this match. We expect the visitors to convert their chances and take the points.

Predicted scoreline: Venezia 0-2 Napoli