Serie A Strugglers Venezia and Verona Share Spoils in 1-1 Draw

Venezia and Verona played out a 1-1 draw in a crucial Serie A relegation battle, leaving Venezia four points adrift of safety and Verona narrowly outside the bottom three.

Serie A strugglers Venezia and Hellas Verona played out a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, a result that leaves Venezia still in the bottom three. The draw also means that Venezia remains without a victory over Verona in the Italian top flight.

The match was a relegation six-pointer, with both teams in the bottom three and Verona leading Venezia by as many points in the table. Despite this, Venezia came into the clash having lost just two of their past seven league matches, although four of those fixtures ended in draws, giving them extra incentive to secure a win.

Verona started the match looking more dangerous, with Suat Serdar's 11th-minute deflected shot being saved by the feet of Filip Stankovic. However, this was the only time Verona tested the shot-stopper before the break. Clear-cut opportunities were scarce, but one chance that fell Venezia's way ended up in the back of the net.

The points are shared in #VeneziaVerona! ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/YIUddavNrV

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) January 27, 2025

Alessio Zerbin, on loan from Napoli, scored the opening goal for Venezia, producing a clinical finish to give his side the lead at the interval. Although there was an element of fortune, as Joel Pohjanpolo's effort from the edge of the box deflected off Diego Coppola straight into Zerbin's path, the goal was a crucial one for Venezia.

One of the primary reasons Venezia and Verona are struggling at the wrong end of the table is their inability to sustain attacking pressure. Despite displaying ample desire and determination, both teams rarely tested the opposing goalkeepers. The lack of clear-cut opportunities was evident, with Suat Serdar's attempt being the only shot on target between half-time and the 70-minute mark.

The match's pattern continued until Verona finally found an equalizer with around 15 minutes left on the clock. Daniel Mosquera was released down the right flank and cut the ball back to Amin Sarr. Sarr's shot inadvertently fell into the path of Jackson Tchatchoua, who tapped the ball into an empty net. This proved to be the final meaningful moment in an otherwise forgettable match, as neither team could find a winner to significantly boost their chances of avoiding relegation.

The draw leaves Venezia four points adrift of safety, emphasizing the need for them to secure a win soon. Although they have proven difficult to beat, their inability to secure victories will continue to hinder their efforts to escape the relegation zone. On the other hand, Verona's point moves them out of the bottom three, providing a slight boost to their survival hopes ahead of their upcoming match against rock-bottom Monza.