Midweek fixture for Venezia FC, who are preparing to host Padova. The Veneto derby, valid for the 31st matchday of Serie BKT, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17 at 8:00 PM at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium. Head coach Giovanni Stroppa, coming off a draw in Genoa against Sampdoria, previewed tomorrow’s match by analyzing the opponent’s characteristics.

Giovanni Stroppa, Venezia FC head coach:
“Looking back at the match in Genoa, it was a point gained, just like the draw we got in Bolzano. However, if I look at the performance, I can also think of them as two points lost, because we created a lot and I believe the display on the pitch deserved something more.

Physically we expended the right amount of energy; the team is used to playing a certain type of match and ran well. We hardly risked anything and allowed the opponent very little, apart from a few corner kicks at the end of the game. We managed the match with great awareness, and the few substitutions we made were meant to maintain the balance that the game required. We reached the goalkeeper four times but weren’t able to convert.

Tomorrow we take the field for the derby. Padova are a dangerous team that performs better away than at home. They have important players with pace and talent, they are very well coached, and they come from a run of three unfortunate results, though not in terms of performances. A derby is always open to any result, so we must be even more attentive.

At this moment, the team’s attitude of not conceding chances to opponents is a fundamental aspect. The two close matches against Padova and Monza? I’m only thinking about tomorrow’s game—fielding the best players and focusing, as always, one match at a time. I believe that in all the matches played, Venezia have deserved much more; as I said before, we are top of the table on merit.

I’m sorry to see Padova’s supporters’ section empty tomorrow, just like ours was in the first leg. The silence of the home fans at the Euganeo had an impact, and the same could happen tomorrow.”