Concluding their tussle for a place in Italy's top flight, Venezia and Cremonese meet at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on Sunday, for the second leg of Serie B's playoff final.
Having finished higher in the final league standings, even a draw would send the hosts back to Serie A, following a tense 0-0 draw in Thursday's first leg.
Match preview
After respectively finishing third and fourth in Serie B, Venezia and Cremonese ultimately emerged through the playoffs to fight for one place alongside automatically-promoted pair Parma and Como in Serie A next season.
As Cremonese came in just behind Venezia, if the clubs' two-legged final ends level, the latter will claim promotion rather than going to extra time or a penalty shootout.
Therefore, Cremo were under pressure to make the most of home advantage at Stadio Zini on Thursday night, but despite having most of the ball and several more shots on target than their Venetian visitors, they could not find away past Finnish goalkeeper Jesse Joronen and had to settle for a goalless draw.
Venezia were 2-1 winners in April's league meeting at the Penzo, coming back from behind to take maximum points, but in Sunday's second leg they now only need to avoid defeat - that would see them return to Serie A at the second time of asking.
Relegated after one top-flight season in 2022, the Arancioneroverdi overcame Palermo in the playoff semi-finals by winning both legs, and they are undoubtedly in good form coming into the decider: Paolo Vanoli's men have won six of their last nine matches.
Vanoli was once Antonio Conte's assistant with Italy, Chelsea and Inter Milan, but now he stands on the verge of leading Venezia back to the promised land as a highly-rated head coach; his opposite number, Giovanni Stroppa, meanwhile, boasts much more experience at this level.
The Cremonese coach previously guided Crotone and Monza to promotion from Serie B, and his current side cruised past Catanzaro in the semi-finals, with a 4-1 home win in the second leg following a 2-2 away draw four days earlier.
Though they could not break through on Thursday, the Grigiorossi are still unbeaten in six games - a run featuring three wins and three draws - and one year after suffering relegation from Italy's top tier, they remain in contention to make an immediate return.
The Lombardy club won half of their 20 away fixtures in the league this season - enough to post Serie B's second-best record on the road - so Stroppa will remain confident of adding another promotion to his CV.
A trip to Venezia's unique lagoon-side stadium has proved testing for most visitors this term, but given such impressive results on their travels, it should hold few fears for the Lombardy club.
Team News
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After dropping Francesco Zampano for the first leg - apparently for fear of picking up a suspension, due to the wing-back being one booking away from a ban - Venezia boss Paolo Vanoli should recall one of his regular starters on Sunday.
While Zampano would play on the left flank, semi-final goalscorer Antonio Candela lines up on the right; USA internationals Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann feature in central midfield.
Once again, Nicholas Pierini is set to support Serie B's top scorer Joel Pohjanpalo up front, with Danish striker Christian Gytkjaer frequently used as an impact substitute during the second half.
Despite 10 players going into Thursday's opener at risk of being suspended due to yellow-card accumulation, both teams have avoided losing anyone missing out for disciplinary reasons.
Therefore, only Ghana forward Felix Afena-Gyan and Senegalese goalkeeper Mouhamadou Sarr - both injured - will be absent for Cremonese.
As ever, Giovanni Stroppa has several candidates to choose from up front: Massimo Coda scored 17 times in Serie B this season, but Frank Tsadjout or even veteran striker Daniel Ciofani could spearhead the visitors' attack in Venice.
Franco Vazquez should support Cremo's main striker from an advanced midfield role, while former Venezia winger Dennis Johnsen is expected to start on the bench.
Venezia possible starting lineup:
Joronen; Idzes, Svoboda, Sverko; Candela, Lella, Tessmann, Busio, Zampano; Pierini, Pohjanpalo
Cremonese possible starting lineup:
Saro; Antov, Ravanelli, Bianchetti; Zanimacchia, Buonaiuto, Castagnetti, Pickel, Sernicola; Vazquez; Coda
We say: Venezia 2-1 Cremonese (Venezia win 2-1 on aggregate)
Needing only a draw to reach Serie A, Venezia can afford to lure Cremonese out and strike clinically on the counter.
While it is sure to be a closely-fought encounter, the hosts have lost only three times at the Penzo this season and look a tough team to beat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
