Venezia-Napoli 0-0, the Azzurri slow down again: fifth draw in the last seven games

Venice, March 16, 2025 - The Venice stop the race of the Napoli, who at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium fails to overtake theInter at the top of the table. The lunch match of the 29th matchday of Serie A ends 0-0, despite the many chances for each side. For the Azzurri, it is the fifth draw in the last seven matchdays. The Neapolitans rise to 60 points, -1 from the top, awaiting Atalanta-Inter. The Venetians block another big team in the championship and return to -6 from the safety zone. 

The choices of the coaches

Venice (3-5-2): Radu; Schingtienne, Idzes, Candé; Zerbin, Kike Perez, Nicolussi Caviglia, Duncan, Ellertsson; Maric, Fila. Coach: Di Francesco.

Napoli (3-5-2): Meret; Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus; Di Lorenzo, Billing, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Raspadori, Lukaku. Coach: Conte. 

First half

We only had to wait four minutes for the first great opportunity of the match: Di Lorenzo's cross, after a parry, arrived at the feet of Breakers, who hits the inside post with his left foot. Having escaped the danger, Venezia makes its presence felt with two shots, one by Nicolussi Caviglia and the other by Kike Perez, which end up high. Fila also tries, testing Meret. Radu also has to get his gloves dirty on a shot by Raspadori, served by Lukaku. On the following corner, the goalkeeper of the lagoon team flies to deflect McTominay's header. The challenge between the former Manchester United player and the home goalkeeper is rarely repeated and once again the latter has the upper hand. Despite the more inviting goal opportunities for the Neapolitans, both teams show they want to win this match, given that Venezia plays very well. In the 37th minute Di Francesco is forced to make the first substitution, taking off the injured Maric and inserting Oristanio. At the end of the fraction the Venetians come within a step of the lead: Meret he outdoes himself by coming out on Ellertsson, then Rrahmani saves his team by parrying Fila's sure-fire shot. A tasty chance in the first of two minutes of injury time also for Lukaku, whose header is nailed to the ground by Radu before the ball crosses the goal line. The former Inter player is also very quick on Di Lorenzo's insertion. An entertaining first half ends 0-0. 

Second half

At the start of the second half, Conte's troops understood that they had to accelerate to try and snatch the three points. Radu is once again impeccable on Spinazzola's dangerous cross. In this second half the locals struggle more against a Napoli that is decidedly more in control. Di Francesco then makes two more changes, throwing Doumbia into the mix for Duncan and Gytkjaer for Fila. Substitutions also on the Azzurri front: Juan Jesus, Anguissa, Olivera and Okafor go in at the same time. A scare for the Campanians in the 82nd minute, when Zerbin's cross narrowly misses Gytkjaer, who is positioned in front of the goal. The finish line is quickly approaching and the guests are unable to break the deadlock. There are six minutes of injury time available for the Neapolitans, who in the 92nd minute miss the 0-1: Okafor crosses for the new entrant Simeone, who fails to hit the target from close range. The last chance of the match is for Venezia, who on the counterattack shoots with Nicolussi Caviglia, to which Meret says "no".