It's early days in the Serie B and both Venezia and Empoli are still hoping for a flying start in order to set the tone for the season. Three points can make a big difference at this stage.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Venezia form and stats
Venezia have secured 6 points from their first three home games in the Serie B. A decent catch, still with room for improvement.
The Venezia goalkeeper Luca Lezzerini is looking to record 90 more "clean sheet" minutes as his team have now played 199 minutes without conceding a goal in the Serie B.
The home team returns to Stadio Pierluigi Penzo after being equal after 90 minutes with Hellas Verona (after extra-time, 3-1 on penalties) on their last time out; the Coppa Italia game ended 3-3. Ahead of that match, Venezia won a home game hosting Pescara (4-0).
There was plenty of action in the dying minutes of the game against Hellas Verona (after extra-time, 3-1 on penalties) as M. Modolo's goal in the 98th minute completed a cancellation of 0-2 and secured a draw after 90 minutes. As you can tell by the result above, the goals flowed freely in the previous game and the stadium rocked. Could there be another goal fest today?
This is expected to be a close game, with Venezia perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Venezia as a small favourite), we find 15 games. Venezia has won five of these, drawn nine and lost one.
A decent goal production from Venezia in their home games so far, with 5 goals from 3 league matches. Venezia have only conceded 2 from their league home games. For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above.
Empoli form and stats
Empoli are yet to lose a point on their Serie B travels this season with 2 wins from 2 away games.
It's the second away game in a row for Empoli, but there's smiles all around after the 4-2 victory versus Benevento in the Coppa Italia last time out. Before that, Empoli secured a home win against Pisa with the score 3-1.
As you can tell from the result, the match against Benevento was as crazy as a clown in a village circus. Great fun for the neutral supporter with 6 goals, will the fun continue today? L. Mancuso certainly enjoyed Empoli's last game versus Benevento, appearing multiple times in the match report with three goals and the 4-2 victory.
So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Empoli playing away and similar expectations, we found 14 relevant matches. Results were six Empoli wins, four draws and four defeats.
As for goals scored and conceded in the league games away so far, Empoli has managed 4 goals and let in 1 from 2 matches.
Head 2 Head
Numbers for the last four meetings between these two teams are: one win for Venezia, one draw and two wins for Empoli. Over 2,5 goals: one time; under 2,5 goals: three games.Top Goalscorers
  S. Moreo 3 goals |  A. La Mantia 3 goals |   M. Aramu 2 goals |
Venezia missing players
Empoli missing players
| Venezia | Empoli | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | Played | P | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | Won | W | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Drew | D | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Lost | L | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 5 | 0 | Scored | S | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | Conceded | C | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 75% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 80% |
| 50% | 67% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 100% | 80% |
| 25% | 33% | 0% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 0% | 50% | 60% |
| 25% | 33% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 0% | 20% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | BTTS | BTTS | 0% | 50% | 60% |
| 75% | 67% | 0% | Clean Sheets | C S | 100% | 50% | 40% |
| 50% | 33% | 100% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 0% | 20% |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.5 | 2.7 | 2 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 | 39 | 13 | Total Shots | T S | 11 | 25 | 75 |
| 17 | 16 | 3 | Shots on Target | S O | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| 29% | 31% | 0% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 67% | 57% | 38% |
- Empoli has the most points from losing position (6) in Serie B
- Empoli is in the best form (4-1-0)
| Venezia | Last season | Empoli | |||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 38 | 19 | Played | P | 20 | 39 | ||
| 12 | 5 | Won | W | 7 | 14 | ||
| 14 | 6 | Drew | D | 5 | 13 | ||
| 12 | 8 | Lost | L | 8 | 12 | ||
| 37 | 18 | Scored | S | 22 | 48 | ||
| 40 | 24 | Conceded | C | 26 | 49 | ||
| 92% | 95% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 95% | 95% | ||
| 68% | 74% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 70% | 77% | ||
| 26% | 37% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 30% | 36% | ||
| 13% | 16% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 21% | ||
| 3% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 15% | 13% | ||
| 50% | 58% | BTTS | BTTS | 40% | 56% | ||
| 32% | 21% | Clean Sheets | C S | 20% | 21% | ||
| 26% | 26% | Failed to Score | F T | 45% | 28% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2.6 | 2.7 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.8 | 1.9 | ||
| 6 | 4 | Red cards | R C | 4 | 6 | ||
| 471 | 237 | Total Shots | T S | 239 | 537 | ||
| 130 | 60 | Shots on Target | S O | 82 | 164 | ||
| 28% | 30% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 27% | 29% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Empoli | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 13 |
| 2 | Salernitana | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| 3 | Cittadella | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| 4 | Frosinone | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| 5 | Chievo | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 6 | Venezia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| 7 | Reggina | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 8 | SPAL | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | Lecce | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 6 |
| 10 | Cosenza | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 11 | Reggiana | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Brescia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -1 | 4 |
| 13 | Pordenone | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 14 | Ascoli | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 4 |
| 15 | Monza | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| 16 | Cremonese | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -2 | 3 |
| 17 | Virtus Entella | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 3 |
| 18 | Pisa | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 3 |
| 19 | Vicenza | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 2 |
| 20 | Pescara | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -9 | 1 |