Venezia vs Fiorentina: Vanoli Takes Charge in Crucial Serie A Clash
Fiorentina’s new head coach Paolo Vanoli faces an immediate Serie A test when his side visit Venezia at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo on Friday, September 11. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:45 PM, with the visitors bottom of the table and still searching for their first league victory of the 2026/27 campaign.
Venezia are only two places higher in 18th and have their own urgent need for points after losing four of their previous five matches in all competitions. Giovanni Stroppa’s team were beaten 3-2 by Frosinone in their latest league outing and have suffered four straight defeats overall.
Vanoli returns after Grosso dismissal
Fiorentina acted quickly after Fabio Grosso was removed following three Serie A losses, bringing Vanoli back to the club within hours. It is Vanoli’s second spell in charge at Viola Park after he helped the club recover from a difficult position last season.
Grosso’s departure could yet develop further, with the former Fiorentina coach reportedly facing possible disciplinary proceedings. Vanoli now inherits a side that lost 2-1 to Torino last time out, having also been beaten 3-0 by Frosinone and 4-0 by Roma during the opening weeks.
Across their last five competitive fixtures, Fiorentina have posted one win, one draw and three defeats, scoring six times while conceding 10. Venezia’s equivalent record is one victory and four losses, with eight goals scored and nine allowed.
Team news and likely line-ups
Venezia have no suspended players, but Stroppa is expected to be without Marin Sverko, Andrea Adorante, Bartol Franjic, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Toma Basic because of injury.
Filip Stankovic is in line to start in goal. The projected Venezia side also includes Matias Moreno, Redouane Halhal, Joel Schingtienne, Simon Sohm, Ridgeciano Haps, Antoine Hainaut, Kike Perez, Gianluca Busio, Albion Rrahmani and Akor Adams.
Fiorentina have no bans to manage, although Fabiano Parisi, Christ Inao Oulai and Riccardo Sottil are unavailable through injury. David de Gea is expected to start behind a likely outfield group of Viery, Radu Dragusin, Joao Mario, Victor Valdepenas, Marco Brescianini, Nicolo Fagioli, Arthur Atta, Alieu Njie, Mateo Pellegrino and Franco Mastantuono.
Recent meetings offer Venezia encouragement
Venezia won the latest Serie A contest between the clubs, taking a 2-1 home victory on May 12, 2025. The last five recorded encounters are evenly balanced: Venezia have won twice, Fiorentina have won twice and one game finished drawn.
That draw was a goalless match in August 2024. Fiorentina prevailed 1-0 in April 2022, while Venezia recorded another 1-0 success at the Penzo in October 2021.
The match is available live through Paramount+, Peacock, CBS Sports Golazo Network and Amazon Prime Video.
