AC MILAN v VENEZIA: MATCH PREVIEW

We're back. After the international break, AC Milan returns to the field in front of their own fans. The match will be at San Siro, where the Rossoneri will host Venezia for matchday 4 of Serie A 2024/25. Three crucial points are at stake, with the goal of securing the first win of the season and building confidence for upcoming Champions League and league fixtures. Let's get ready for the kick-off of AC Milan v Venezia with our Match Preview.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
Intense work during the break, as the Rossoneri aim to turn around a challenging start to the season. To do this, overcoming Venezia will be crucial, considering the pitfalls that every match after a break can bring. Several starting positions are up for grabs, particularly evaluating the shape of the returning internationals. Morata has recovered, but Abraham is in line for the central attack role. Okafor is vying for a spot on the wings, while Gabbia, Tomori, and Pavlović are competing for two spots in defence. The 4-2-3-1 formation remains the reference point, but Fonseca will be without Bennacer and likely Thiaw, adding them to the list of absentees alongside Florenzi and Sportiello.

"Having 70,000 fans at San Siro is a great declaration of love from our supporters," said Fonseca on the eve of the match. "For us, it is also clearly a responsibility; we want to repay their support and make them proud. Every game is important, especially at this moment. I am confident. We need to stay focused on tomorrow's match. We have prepared to counter Venezia's strengths".

FONSECA: "WE WANT TO REPAY THE SUPPORT OF OUR FANS"

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LATEST FROM VENEZIA
Three high-level matches but only one point so far for newly-promoted Venezia. Di Francesco's team has shown courage and initiative at the start of Serie A. Despite an opening defeat with a comeback at the Olimpico (3-1 to Lazio), the 0-0 away draw with Fiorentina and the 0-1 loss to Torino in the subsequent matches have left a different impression. Venezia responded well, despite the late loss to the Granata. The start can be considered good, and now the test at San Siro could make it excellent. Bjarkason is absent, and the conditions of players like Altare, Šverko, and Haps are yet to be evaluated. Pohjanpalo, the captain, has returned to the forward line in the 3-4-2-1 formation set up by our next opponent.

"AC Milan is the team that creates the most scoring opportunities, creating many chances from the left wing and showing quality in all areas," commented Eusebio Di Francesco. "They will play in front of 70,000 fans, so we need to limit them, trying to give them fewer opportunities and stay in the game".

PRE-MATCH STATS

• The most common scoreline between AC Milan and Venezia in Serie A is 2-0 in favour of the Rossoneri, occurring in five matches, with the most recent on 22 September 2021.
• In their last 19 home Serie A matches against newly-promoted teams, AC Milan has remained unbeaten (15W, 4D); they haven't had a longer streak since 2003 (21 games at that time).
• In this season, only Napoli (59) has taken more shots than AC Milan (53) - the Rossoneri are fifth in Expected Goals (5.4).
• Venezia is one of the three teams, along with Torino and Parma, against which Theo Hernández has scored the most goals in Serie A (three), and among these, it's the team he has faced the fewest times (only two).

TIME MACHINE: AC MILAN v VENEZIA

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WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN v VENEZIA
In Italy, the game will be live on DAZN, Sky and NOW. To watch AC Milan v Venezia from a different country, please consult the 'AC Milan on TV' page. Follow Matchday on Milan TV: the live will begin at 20:00 CEST until kick-off, with the game being followed by the interviews and press conference from Fonseca. Don't miss out on our coverage via acmilan.com, the AC Milan Official App, our official social media channels and WhatsApp.

LATEST FROM SERIE A
Davide Di Marco will be the referee for AC Milan v Venezia, the fourth match in Serie A for the official. He has only one previous match with the Rossoneri, a 3-3 home draw against Salernitana in May 2024. He will be accompanied by assistants Del Giovane and Di Iorio, with Marchetti as the fourth official. Fabbri will be the VAR, assisted by Doveri.

Matchday 4 of Serie A will kick off on Saturday, 14 September, with Como v Bologna at 15:00 CEST, followed by Empoli v Juventus at 18:00 CEST and AC Milan v Venezia at 20:45 CEST. Genoa v Roma will be the first lunch match of the season, starting the Sunday schedule on 15 September at 12:30 CEST. Atalanta v Fiorentina and Torino v Lecce are the 15:00 CEST fixtures, with Cagliari v Napoli at 18:00 CEST and Monza v Inter at 20:45 CEST. There are two matches postponed to Monday, 16 September: Parma v Udinese at 18:30 CEST and Lazio v Hellas Verona at 20:45 CEST.

Current table: Inter, Juventus, Torino and Udinese 7; Hellas Verona and Napoli 6; Empoli 5; Lazio, Parma and Genoa 4; Fiorentina, Atalanta and Lecce 3; AC Milan, Monza, Cagliari, Roma and Bologna 2; Venezia and Como 1.

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