Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the fixtures of Serie A's 38th round will take place on Sunday at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium, where local side Venezia will host Juventus. I’m backing a bet on goals in this clash, with strong odds for success.
Match preview
In the previous round, Venezia suffered a painful 0-3 defeat away to Cagliari, marking only their second loss in the last seven matches (2 wins, 3 draws). However, it was their third heavy defeat of the current Serie A campaign, and with this result the club has slipped into the relegation zone, sitting 19th with 29 points. In this situation, Venezia desperately need a win to keep their hopes of staying in the top flight alive.
It’s worth noting the team’s major struggles at home—Venezia have failed to win eight of their last ten matches on their own turf, picking up just four draws and four defeats. This instability is seriously complicating the club’s position as the season draws to a close.
Last time out, Igor Tudor’s men confidently dispatched Udinese at home with a 2-0 victory. This marked Juventus’ fourth straight Serie A match without defeat, a run including two wins and two draws. Moreover, the Turin side kept a clean sheet for the 17th time this season, highlighting their defensive solidity. With 67 points, Juventus continue to hold onto fourth place, and a win in the next match would secure direct qualification for the Champions League.
Despite their strong home form, Juventus have struggled on the road—failing to win eight of their last ten away matches, with three defeats and five draws. This record underlines their inconsistency outside Turin, which could prove decisive in the race for the top spots.
Probable lineups
- Venezia: Andrei Radu – Joel Chintienne, Francesco Zampano, Fali Candé – Gianluca Busio, Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, Kike Perez, John Yeboah, Mikael Egill Ellertsson – Alessio Zerbin, Gaetano Oristanio
- Juventus: Michele Di Gregorio – Andrea Cambiaso, Lloyd Kelly, Renato Veiga, Alberto Costa – Manuel Locatelli, Francisco Conceição, Nicolas Gonzalez, Weston McKennie, Kenan Yildiz – Randal Kolo Muani
Match facts and head-to-head
- The first round fixture ended in a 2-2 draw in Turin
- The "Over 2.5 goals" bet has landed in 4 out of the last 5 meetings
- The "Both teams to score" wager has hit in each of the last 4 matches
Prediction
Venezia traditionally lack attacking sharpness, even at home, where they usually manage just a single goal or none at all, opting for a solid but unspectacular defensive approach. Juventus, too, rarely score more than once on the road, as reflected in recent matches and past head-to-head encounters. I expect a cautious, low-scoring affair, so my prediction is Under 2.5 goals.
