Serie A

Football Italia

·12 May 2025

Serie A | Venezia 2-1 Fiorentina: Lagunari escape drop zone with rare victory

Venezia escaped from the relegation zone with this much-needed victory sealed by Fali Candé and Gaetano Oristanio, as Fiorentina fall behind in the race for Europe.

Both teams had so much at stake here, as the Lagunari would climb out of the drop zone with a victory, while the Viola would go to within two points of fourth. The season is over for Alfred Duncan, Michel Svoboda and Richie Sagrado. Nicolò Zaniolo was suspended, with Moise Kean, Albert Gudmundsson and Danilo Cataldi injured after Fiorentina’s extra time Conference League semi-final exit to Real Betis on Thursday. The visitors celebrated Mother’s Day by wearing their maiden surnames on their jerseys.

OneFootball Videos

VENICE, ITALY – MAY 12: Supporters of Venezia during the Serie A match between Venezia and Fiorentina at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on May 12, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Ionut Radu was at full stretch to palm the Nicolò Fagioli curler round the far post after Lucas Beltran’s smart interception, while Pablo Mari’s header on a corner was charged down.

Cher Ndour skimmed the far top corner from a very difficult angle with his right foot strike, while Yeboah fired across the face of goal after squirming away from two defenders.

After the restart, Yeboah ran onto a long ball down the right and rolled across only for Gaetano Oristanio to drill inches wide from 10 yards.

Venezia broke the deadlock moments later, as Kike Perez stood up the cross for Fali Candé to chest it down and fire in on the bounce from six yards, taking advantage of very static Fiorentina defending.

VENICE, ITALY – MAY 12: Gaetano Oristanio of Venezia competes for the ball with Marin Pongracic of Fiorentina during the Serie A match between Venezia and Fiorentina at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on May 12, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

There was a dramatic turn of events when Luca Ranieri thought he was going to equalise as his low drive was deflected onto the base of the upright by Radu’s foot, but the rebound broke kindly for Venezia to go on the counter, so Zerbin stood up a cross to the back post for Oristanio’s header from the tightest of angles.

Yeboah hesitated too long when getting down the left and fired over, with Lucas Beltran doing the same at the other end.

Fiorentina got back into it when Mandragora slipped after a give and go with Dodo, but still managed to get the shot away with his left foot, bending it around a surprised Radu.

VENICE, ITALY – MAY 12: Rolando Mandragora of Fiorentina competes for the ball during the Serie A match between Venezia and Fiorentina at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on May 12, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

The Viola were suddenly sparked into life and poured forward, Michael Folorunsho’s diving header wide at the far post on a Dodo cross, then his penalty appeals were rejected for a slight Francesco Zampano push.

Substitute Cheick Conde was only on the field for seven minutes when he was stretchered off with a badly sprained ankle.

De Gea struggled to deal with a Hans Nicolussi Caviglia free kick that bounced off the wet turf right in front of him.

Fiorentina kept pushing to the final minute, a looping Colpani header landing on the roof of the net and Folorunsho scuffing the finish wide.