VENICE, ITALY - MARCH 16: Romelu Lukaku of Napoli heads the ball at goal during the Serie A match between Venezia and Napoli at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on March 16, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
VENICE, ITALY - MARCH 16: Romelu Lukaku of Napoli heads the ball at goal during the Serie A match between Venezia and Napoli at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on March 16, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

Antonio Conte and Napoli missed an opportunity to go top of the Serie A standings after a 0-0 draw away against Venezia in Sunday’s early kick-off slot, which means that Inter are still leading the division ahead of their top-of-the-table clash against Atalanta later in the evening. 

Conte named an unchanged Napoli line-up for today’s clash following the 2-1 Serie A victory over Fiorentina last weekend, with Giacomo Raspadori partnering Romelu Lukaku up front, with Billy Gilmour, Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay in midfield

Click here to see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.

VENICE, ITALY - MARCH 16: Fali Cande of Venezia defends against Romelu Lukaku of Napoli during the Serie A match between Venezia and Napoli at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on March 16, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
VENICE, ITALY – MARCH 16: Fali Cande of Venezia defends against Romelu Lukaku of Napoli during the Serie A match between Venezia and Napoli at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on March 16, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

Giacomo Raspadori hit the woodwork five minutes in, capitalising on a deflected Giovanni Di Lorenzo cross in to bend a low effort off the upright. 

It was Venezia, however, who had the larger share of the game’s early shots. Mikael Ellertsson caused issues down Venezia’s left flank with a few dangerous deliveries, while Daniel Fila drew the first save out of Alex Meret a quarter of an hour in. 

Like it was at the start, there were a flurry of chances towards the end of the first period. Kike Perez drew a save from Alex Meret, which then required a goal-line clearance from Amir Rrahmani after Fila’s follow-up. 

Lukaku came closer than anybody with a downward header destined for the bottom corner in the 45th, requiring a goal-denying save from Radu on the line to keep the scores level heading into the break. 

Napoli spent large spells of the early second half stages in the Venezia half and won themselves plenty of corners and free-kicks, but struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities of their own despite their dominance in possession. 

An injury to Amir Rrahmani caused a halt to Napoli’s momentum with 15 minutes left to go. It also brought a quadruple substitution, as Juan Jesus, Matias Olivera, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Noah Okafor were all introduced at the same time. 

Giovanni Simeone, on as a late replacement for Lukaku, missed a glorious opportunity to win it three minutes into injury time, blazing over from 10 yards out after Okafor’s inch-perfect delivery from the left flank.

Sunday’s result leaves Napoli in second place in the Serie A table, level on points with Inter, who still have to play against third-placed Atalanta later in the evening. 

Venezia 0-0 Napoli 

16-03-2025 11:30
MatchDay 29

Player statistic

1st half
Fali Candé Yellow card 43'    
2nd half
Hans Nicolussi Caviglia Yellow card 47'    
    88' Yellow card Mathías Olivera

Match statistic

43
Possession %
57
13
Total shots
15
4
Shots on target
7
7
Shots off target
4
2
Blocked shots
4
3
Corners
8
1
Offsides
2
19
Fouls
8

Venezia
Napoli

Starting lineups

28
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
4
Defender
25
32
Midfielder
70'
14
71
Midfielder
87'
24
Attacker
18
Attacker
70'
77
87'
99
Attacker
38'
1
Goalkeeper
13
Defender
77'
22
37
76'
6
Midfielder
77'
8
Midfielder
68
Midfielder
81
76'
21
Attacker
11
Attacker
87'

Substitutes

79
Defender
19
Attacker
7
1
Goalkeeper
23
Goalkeeper
17
Midfielder
80
Midfielder
21
Defender
11
Midfielder
38'
9
70'
97
Midfielder
70'
5
Defender
87'
6
Midfielder
87'
96
Goalkeeper
14
Goalkeeper
30
15
Midfielder
26
Attacker
29
Midfielder
16
Defender
9
Attacker
76'
17
Defender
76'
5
Defender
77'
99
Midfielder
77'
18
Attacker
87'

Avatar

ByPeter Young

Peter Young is a Senior Reporter with Football Italia.

One thought on “Serie A | Venezia 0-0 Napoli – Conte misses chance to go top”
  1. Good result. I hope Atalanta can pick up the cotton against Inter. Imagine what beautiful chaos it will be—three teams at the top with the same points! I love this game!

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