Football Season Guide

At the end of the past season, Venezia obtained their 3rd promotion to the Serie A in the last 6 years, thus making it back to the top flight of Italian football after just 1 campaign. They undoubtedly were the best team of the league as they triumphed, while holding the best attack and the best defence, with 77 goals scored and 31 conceded. Truth be said, it did not look like things would have gone that way at the beginning of the campaign. In fact, at the end of week 11, they were sitting on the 6th spot, 8 points below the then leading Modena. Then, they started an unstoppable march characterised by 11 wins and 1 draw which brought them to the top of the table. A position they would not quit until the end. Coach Giovanni Stroppa, who led them to promotion in his first season in charge, will thus taste the Serie A again after 4 years. His 3 previous experiences at the top level all ended up with sackings. During the summer, Venezia were particularly active, as they tried to inject some quality and experience in their squad. However, first of all, they had to part ways with starting centre-back Svoboda and back-up Korac while Sverko, also a starter, is still recovering from injury. Thus, they hired Moreno and Bella-Kotchap, coming from Fiorentina and Hellas Verona, who are both set to become starters, while Franjic was signed permanently after being loaned in. They suffered their major loss in the midfield, though, as key midfielder Doumbia was sold to Sporting Lisboa for good money: Basic arrived after a good season at Lazio and should be his replacement. Venezia lacked a valid right-back and they hired Correia, coming from a mixed season at Valencia. In the attack, they lacked a valid alternative to Adorante, their top scorer with 17 goals but no Serie A experience, and they hired Rrahmani from Sparta Praha and Adams from Sevilla.