Venezia-Cremonese is the final return match of the Serie B playoffs and is played on Sunday at 8:30 pm: probable formations, predictions, live TV and streaming.
Ninety more minutes and then we will finally know the name of the team that will keep company with Parma and Como – already promoted directly at the end of the regular season – on their journey to Serie A. Into the top flight will go one between Venezia and Cremonese, who in the final first leg last Thursday drew 0-0. A result that certainly suits the lagunari, who, thanks to their better placement in the regular season standings – Paolo Vanoli’s team finished with three points more than the Lombardi – will be able to party if the return match at the “Penzo” ends in a draw again.
There will be no overtime or penalties, therefore, which means that Cremonese, in order to regain the A league just a year after relegation, will have to win. Venice, on the contrary, will be able to play for two out of three results. Reason why a more eventful match is to be expected compared to the first leg, where the two teams practically cancelled each other out and tension ended up getting the upper hand. There was no shortage of chances on either side, but the orange and green, having to deal with a string of cautions, succeeded in their intent: to avoid defeat and have no disqualified players in the decisive match. Giovanni Stroppa’s men, the best defense in the regular season, cannot afford to make any calculations this time, having to necessarily score one more goal than the opponent. For the Lombard coach, it is a sort of déjà vu, having experienced a substantially identical situation two years ago, when at the helm of Monza he managed to come out on top against Pisa despite the fact that the Tuscans could count on the advantage of the field factor.
Venice-Cremonese: the latest lineup news
There are no disqualified players at home in Venezia, with Vanoli seeming intent on reproposing the same eleven that faced Cremonese last Thursday. The only ballot is on the left flank, where Zampano is challenging Bjarkason. In attack Pohjanpalo, regular season’s top scorer but still dry in these playoffs, will be supported by Pierini.
Not even Stroppa will upset the lineup that took the field at the “Zini.” Unlike his colleague, however, the grigiorosso coach has to deal with the probable absence of former Johnsen. The weight of the attack will be on the shoulders of veterans Vazquez and Coda.
The prediction
Three goals scored, only one conceded. In the three games played so far in the playoffs, Venezia has been solid. And at home the lagunarians have lost only once in this 2024: something must mean something. Therefore, we expect another balanced but more eventful match than the one at “Zini,” which could unlock in the second half. Vanoli’s team should in any case manage to avoid defeat and celebrate their return to the top division.
The probable lineups of Venezia-Cremonese
VENEZIA (3-5-2): Joronen; Sverko, Idzes, Svoboda; Candela, Tessmann, Lella, Busio, Zampano; Pierini, Pohjanpalo.
CREMONESE (3-5-2): Saro; Antov, Ravanelli, Bianchetti; Zanimacchia, Collocolo, Castagnetti, Pickel, Sernicola; Vazquez, Coda.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1