AC Milan vs Venezia Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
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Paulo Fonseca is already feeling the heat at San Siro after a very underwhelming start to the season for AC Milan as the Rossoneri now welcome a newly-promoted Venezia side across to Milan.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 14th September, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
AC MILAN PREVIEW: ISSUES AFOOT
Former Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and Lille boss Paulo Fonseca enjoyed an impressive season with the latter last year but decided to replace Stefano Pioli and take on quite a difficult job at San Siro, despite Milan owners RedBird Capital persisting with their supposedly smart and impressive recruitment policy.
Milan started the season with a 2-2 draw at home to Torino in which they were 2-0 down heading into the 89th minute. That was followed by a 2-1 defeat at the Ennio Tardini against newly-promoted Parma before heading into the break with a 2-2 draw against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in the capital city of Rome.
VENEZIA PREVIEW: FUN BUT INEFFECTIVE
Following their promotion back to the Italian top-flight last season via the Serie B playoffs, their coach and former Italy youth coach Paolo Vanoli, departed for Torino and the Venetians opted to appoint former Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco, who was relegated from Serie A last season with Frosinone.
Di Francesco’s style of football is known for being attacking and a bit chaotic. Venezia, though, have started the 2024/25 Serie A season by scoring just one goal in their opening three games. That came in the third minute of the season when they took the lead in a 3-1 loss to Lazio before a goalless draw with Fiorentina and then a slender defeat to the aforementioned Torino.
AC MILAN TEAM NEWS: HERNANDEZ AND LEO DEBATE
In that draw with Lazio, Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez were dropped but came on to change the game. There are rumblings of discontent from the pair, though, ahead of the restart.
With doubts over their inclusion, Milan are also trying to deal with several key injuries such as defender Malick Thiaw, midfielder Ismael Bennacer and striker Alvaro Morata.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Jovic
UNAVAILABLE: Sportiello (Injured), Thiaw (Injured), Florenzi (Injured), Bennacer (Injured), Alvaro Morata (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
VENEZIA TEAM NEWS: BUSIO BACK BUT NO BJARKASON
Venezia are now able to welcome back United States’ Olympian Gio Busio but the Venetians are now without Icelandic midfielder Bjarki Steinn Bjarkason for this weekend.
Aside from that, there will be interest to see whether Di Francesco makes many changes after having a much-needed fortnight to get to grips with his new side.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Joronen; Idzes, Svoboda, Sverko; Candela, Duncan, Caviglia, Zampano; Oristanio, Ellertsson; Pohjanpalo
UNAVAILABLE: Bjarkason (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
AC MILAN VS VENEZIA PREDICTION
Paulo Fonseca will have to contend with the fact that AC Milan have several injury issues, a bit of in-fighting and the distraction of facing Liverpool in a stellar UEFA Champions League tie this week. The Rossoneri, though, remain firm favourites for this one against a Venezia side that, despite trying to curb their enthusiasm, have remained naïve and open throughout the opening stages. AC Milan will be expected to win this one quite comfortably, especially at San Siro.
AC MILAN VS VENEZIA TIP: AC MILAN TO WIN -1 HANDICAP
