Serie A | Venezia 2-3 Juventus: Bianconeri seal top-four finish
Venezia vs Juventus
On a tense Sunday afternoon at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, Juventus secured their place in next season’s Champions League with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Venezia, a result that simultaneously condemned the Lagunari to relegation to Serie B. The match, played in front of a passionate yet anxious Venezia crowd, was a high-stakes affair, with Juventus needing a win to guarantee fourth place in the Serie A standings and Venezia desperately requiring a victory—coupled with favorable results elsewhere—to avoid the drop. Despite missing key players like Pierre Kalulu, who was suspended, and the injured Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, and Arkadiusz Milik, Juventus welcomed back Khephren Thuram and Nicolò Savona from bans, though several others, including Renato Veiga, Weston McKennie, Federico Gatti, and Teun Koopmeiners, were only fit enough for the bench. Venezia, meanwhile, were without the suspended Jay Idzes and injured duo Michael Svoboda and Cheick Condé, making their task even more daunting. The game was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both sides trading blows in a contest that showcased moments of brilliance, defensive errors, and VAR controversy, ultimately sealing the contrasting fates of two teams at opposite ends of the Serie A spectrum.
The match began with Venezia, spurred on by their desperate fight for survival, taking an early initiative that stunned the visitors. In the eighth minute, the Lagunari executed a beautifully orchestrated attacking move that involved nearly every outfield player. The ball moved fluidly from one side of the pitch to the other, culminating in a precise cross from Mikael Egill Ellertsson on the left. Daniel Fila, seizing the moment, met the delivery with an unorthodox finish, using his knee to divert the ball past Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. The early goal sent shockwaves through the Juventus camp and ignited the home crowd, who sensed a glimmer of hope in their battle to avoid relegation. Venezia’s high-pressing, cohesive play exposed Juventus’ makeshift defense, which struggled to cope with the hosts’ intensity in the opening exchanges. However, Juventus, under the guidance of their manager, responded with characteristic resilience. Just minutes after conceding, the Bianconeri thought they had equalized when young defender Alberto Costa unleashed a fierce strike from the edge of the box, marking his first Serie A goal. The celebrations were cut short, however, as VAR intervened, spotting a handball by Costa in the build-up, a decision that left Juventus frustrated but undeterred. The disallowed goal seemed to galvanize the visitors, who began to assert their authority, with Francisco Conceição testing Venezia goalkeeper Ionut Radu with a shot that narrowly missed the near post and Randal Kolo Muani earning a corner after outpacing two defenders, only to see his effort from inside the box blocked.
Juventus’ persistence paid off in the 25th minute when Kenan Yildiz, the Turkish starlet, produced a moment of individual brilliance to level the score. Capitalizing on a quickly taken throw-in, Yildiz dribbled past a Venezia defender with a deft touch, creating just enough space to unleash a precise left-footed strike that beat Radu at his near post. The goal showcased Yildiz’s burgeoning talent and shifted the momentum in Juventus’ favor, as the Old Lady began to dominate possession and exploit Venezia’s defensive frailties. Five minutes later, Juventus took the lead through Kolo Muani, whose clinical finishing proved decisive. A misplaced long pass from Venezia’s Joël Schingtienne gifted possession to Juventus high up the pitch, allowing Kolo Muani to control the ball with an exquisite touch using the outside of his foot before rifling a powerful shot into the net. The French striker’s goal highlighted Juventus’ ability to capitalize on errors, a trait that has defined their season, and put them in the driver’s seat. Venezia, however, refused to capitulate, and former Juventus midfielder Hans Nicolussi Caviglia nearly equalized just before halftime, striking the woodwork from a tight angle after a well-worked corner. The miss was a cruel blow for the hosts, who went into the break trailing but still in contention, knowing that a single goal could keep their survival hopes alive.
The second half began with Venezia showing renewed vigor, determined to fight for their Serie A status. Their persistence was rewarded early in the half when Ridgeciano Haps leveled the score in the 48th minute. Venezia exploited Juventus’ vulnerability on the flanks, with John Yeboah outpacing Andrea Cambiaso down the right and delivering a pinpoint pass to the far post. Haps, unmarked, met the ball with a header that took a deflection off Nicolò Savona on the goal line, wrong-footing Di Gregorio and finding the net. The goal reignited the home crowd’s belief and exposed Juventus’ defensive frailties, particularly in dealing with crosses. Di Gregorio, however, redeemed himself minutes later with a crucial save at the near post to deny Yeboah, preserving the stalemate and keeping Juventus in the game. As the match entered its final stages, both sides pushed for a winner, with the tension palpable. The turning point came in the 75th minute when Nicolussi Caviglia, in a moment of recklessness, fouled Conceição inside the penalty area, prompting the referee to award Juventus a spot-kick. Manuel Locatelli, the Italian midfielder, stepped up and coolly dispatched the penalty into the top corner, restoring Juventus’ lead and sending their traveling supporters into raptures. Locatelli had a chance to seal the victory shortly after, but his shot from the edge of the box sailed wide, keeping Venezia’s hopes alive until the final whistle.
As the game drew to a close, Juventus managed the clock expertly, their experience and composure shining through to secure the 3-2 victory. The win confirmed their fourth-place finish in Serie A, guaranteeing Champions League football for the following season and marking a successful, if not spectacular, campaign for the Bianconeri. For Venezia, the defeat was a devastating blow, as results elsewhere failed to go their way, confirming their relegation to Serie B. The Lagunari’s players and fans were left to rue missed opportunities, particularly Nicolussi Caviglia’s near-miss and the defensive errors that allowed Juventus to take control. Despite the disappointment, Venezia’s performance showed flashes of the quality that had seen them compete bravely throughout the season, and their focus will now shift to rebuilding in the second tier with the aim of a swift return to Serie A.
The match at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo was a microcosm of both teams’ seasons—Juventus’ ability to grind out results despite adversity and Venezia’s spirited but ultimately fruitless fight for survival. For Juventus, the victory was a testament to their squad depth, with young talents like Yildiz and Kolo Muani stepping up in the absence of key players. The return of Thuram and Savona added further optimism for the future, while Locatelli’s penalty underlined his growing importance in midfield. As the Bianconeri prepare for the Champions League, their manager will look to address defensive vulnerabilities exposed by Venezia’s attacking play. For Venezia, the relegation battle was lost, but the performances of players like Yeboah and Haps offer hope for a brighter future. The summer will be a time of transition for both clubs, with Juventus aiming to strengthen their squad for European competition and Venezia plotting their path back to the top flight. The 3-2 thriller at the Penzo, though not a classic in terms of quality, was a dramatic conclusion to a season of highs and lows, setting the stage for new challenges in the campaigns to come.
