Both stuck inside Serie A's drop zone and facing a season-long scrap for survival, Venezia and Lecce will meet at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on Monday evening. Lecce's board finally lost patience with Luca Gotti and decided to make a managerial change during the international break, and they will hope to see immediate results in Venice. © Imago Bitten by their inability to retain leads once again, Venezia lost 2-1 at home to fellow promoted side Parma last time out, after Hans Nicolussi Caviglia gave them an early advantage which was subsequently frittered away.
The Lagunari have now dropped no fewer than 14 points from winning positions since returning to the Italian top flight, and last season's Serie B playoff winners have still won just twice across all competitions since Eusebio Di Francesco took charge in the summer. Languishing at the foot of the standings , they have struggled to keep the back door shut, and no other team has conceded more goals from set-pieces - a tally of nine puts them level with Cagliari. Di Francesco - who had a brief and unsuccessful spell as Lecce coach over a decade ago - is therefore under pressure to produce an upturn, and this clash with one of Venezia's relegation rivals is already being seen as a six-pointer.
Both previous top-flight games between the clubs at Stadio Penzo have ended in draws, with the second taking place exactly 23 years before Monday's meeting, but only victory will be acceptable this time around. © Imago While Di France.