Lazio Aims for Crucial Win Against Struggling Venezia

ROME, Italy — Lazio seeks to secure a crucial victory on the road when they face Venezia in a Serie A match scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 15:00 local time at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo in Venice. With the season nearing its end, every point counts for Lazio, who remain in contention for a Champions League spot.

Venezia, sitting at the bottom of the Serie A table, can ill afford another defeat, having accumulated only 16 points from their first 25 matches. A turnaround is essential for the Lagunari, who are struggling to avoid relegation. The team currently trails safety by five points and is looking for their first win of 2025.

Lazio, on the other hand, has recently improved its form, having achieved back-to-back wins over Cagliari and Monza. They will enter the contest needing a win after losing their last match against Napoli, which saw them drop to fifth place behind Juventus.

Head coach Marco Baroni‘s squad will make adjustments ahead of the match, notably featuring Christos Mandas as their starting goalkeeper after Ivan Provedel’s shaky performances in the previous games created openings for Mandas this season. Baroni also faces challenges with injuries sidelining key players like Matias Vecino and Elseid Hysaj. Star midfielder Nicolo Rovella is also suspended for this match.

Certainly, the match poses a challenge for Venezia head coach Eusebio Di Francesco. He is grappling with the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Filip Stankovic due to injury, leaning on Andrei Radu instead. The team is also missing defensive stalwarts Ridgeciano Haps and Richie Sagrado, leaving Di Francesco to rely on a shaky backline that has been porous in recent outings.

“We must approach this match like it’s a final. We owe it to our fans,” Di Francesco said. “Every game is crucial now, and we need to find our rhythm again.”

Venezia boasts a new attacking duo with Daniel Fila and Gaetano Oristanio upfront, while Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, supported by Kike Perez and Gianluca Busio, will be key in the midfield. Their last win came in December 2024 against Cagliari, and they have recorded three losses since then, including a heavy defeat to Genoa last week.

Lazio’s lineup features several promising talents and experienced players. Alongside Mandas, the backline will consist of Adam Marusic, Mario Gila, Alessio Romagnoli, and Nuno Tavares. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru will control the midfield alongside Matteo Guendouzi, and Tijjani Noslin will lead the attack with support from Gustav Isaksen, Boulaye Dia, and Mattia Zaccagni.

Lazio’s focus will undoubtedly be to capitalize on Venezia’s defensive vulnerabilities. “We can’t afford to drop points against teams at the bottom of the table if we want to secure a place in the Champions League,” said Lazio’s head coach Marco Baroni. “We are going to Venice to win and continue our fight for a top-four finish.”

Both teams head into the clash knowing the importance of securing points, however, for Venezia, every match from hereon is a do-or-die battle for survival. With a complicated injury list and a lack of recent form, the odds seem stacked against them as they prepare to face Lazio, who will aim to leverage their current momentum and claim three vital points.