As the Serie B playoff final approaches, Venezia and Cremonese are set to battle for a coveted spot in Italy's top flight.
The second leg, hosted at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on Sunday, promises to be a thrilling conclusion to their season-long efforts.
Match Preview
Teams' Journey to the Final
Venezia and Cremonese finished third and fourth in Serie B respectively, securing their spots in the playoffs.
Venezia, aiming for a return to Serie A after being relegated in 2022, have shown strong form by winning six of their last nine matches.
Cremonese, on the other hand, are also eager for an immediate return to the top tier after being relegated last season.
First Leg Recap
The first leg ended in a tense 0-0 draw at Stadio Zini. Despite Cremonese's dominance in possession and attempts on goal, they were unable to break through Venezia's resilient defence, led by Finnish goalkeeper Jesse Joronen.
This result means Venezia only need a draw in the second leg to secure promotion, given their higher finish in the league standings.
Team News and Lineups
Venezia
Coach Paolo Vanoli, who has experience as Antonio Conte’s assistant, will likely reinstate Francesco Zampano, who was rested in the first leg to avoid suspension.
Key players include:
Goalkeeper: Jesse Joronen
Defenders: Sven Botman, Daniel Munoz
Midfielders: Gianluca Busio, Tanner Tessmann
Forwards: Joel Pohjanpalo (Serie B’s top scorer), Nicholas Pierini
Cremonese
Giovanni Stroppa, with a record of promoting teams from Serie B, will have to make strategic choices.
Despite missing Felix Afena-Gyan and Mouhamadou Sarr due to injuries, they have a strong squad featuring:
Goalkeeper: Marco Carnesecchi
Defenders: Luka Lochoshvili, Matteo Bianchetti
Midfielders: Franco Vazquez, Michele Castagnetti
Forwards: Massimo Coda, Frank Tsadjout
Prediction
Venezia's Advantage
Venezia’s home advantage at the unique lagoon-side stadium and their recent form suggest they have the upper hand.
They have lost only three times at home this season and can exploit Cremonese’s need to attack.
Cremonese’s Strengths
Cremonese have been strong on the road, boasting Serie B’s second-best away record.
Their unbeaten streak in the last six games, including crucial wins, indicates they are capable of mounting a challenge.
Prediction
Given the circumstances and current form, we're predicting Venezia to win 2-1, securing their promotion to Serie A with a 2-1 aggregate score.
Cremonese 
Venezia 
