Venezia change coach two days before facing Napoli

Venezia arrive against Napoli in the toughest possible shape: bottom of the table on zero points after six rounds, the only side in Serie A yet to register a win or even a draw. Six defeats in six, including the loss in Bergamo against Atalanta that cost Giovanni Stroppa his job — the coach who had taken Venezia back up to Serie A a year ago after promotion from Serie B.

The new coach

On the pitch, the Venezia seen so far is not a team that settles for sterile possession, according to Stroppa's own words after the Bergamo defeat: they look for the ball through the middle, and in their last outing created chances in front of the opposing goalkeeper, including a goal that was disallowed. It is worth noting rather than a warning sign — the same team, by the account of the man who coached them until a few days ago, has also handed matches to opponents through defensive lapses at key moments.

Venezia's real weaknesses show up in the numbers and in the calendar of recent weeks: 16 goals conceded in six matches, zero points, and now a change of coach at the most delicate moment of the season, with the squad having to learn a new coach and a new way of working in almost no time. The statistic that matters most, cited by the club itself in announcing Nicola, is that no team has ever stayed up in Serie A after reaching zero points through six games.

A Venezia side in full crisis, with a coach only just appointed and a table reading zero, is still no guarantee for us — this season has already taught us that matches simply have to be played. After a difficult few weeks, we go to the Penzo for the three points, with no concessions for anyone.