Inter Milan vs Venezia — Match Preview
The Coppa Italia Round of 16 kicks off this Wednesday at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza as defending Serie A champions Inter Milan host Serie B high-flyers Venezia.1
For Cristian Chivu’s Inter, this match offers a chance to build momentum. After a rocky week that saw defeats to AC Milan (0-1) and Atlético Madrid (1-2), the Nerazzurri steadied the ship with a professional 2-0 win over Pisa on Sunday. With the Scudetto race intensifying, Chivu will view the cup as an opportunity to rotate his squad while still demanding a place in the quarter-finals.
They face a Venezia side brimming with confidence. Under manager Giovanni Stroppa, the Lagunari have won four of their last five Serie B matches, including a convincing 3-0 victory over Mantova last weekend. Currently chasing promotion, Venezia arrive in Milan with nothing to lose and a history of making life difficult for Inter in recent years.
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Inter Milan vs Venezia
- Competition: Coppa Italia Frecciarossa (Round of 16)
- Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro), Milan (Capacity: 80,018)2
- Date: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 21:00 CET / 20:00 GMT / 01:30 IST (Thursday)
- Referee: TBC
- TV Channel (Italy): Mediaset (Canale 5 or Italia 1)
- TV Channel (USA): Paramount+
- TV Channel (India): Star Sports Select / Disney+ Hotstar (TBC)
- Live Stream: Mediaset Infinity (Italy), Paramount+ (USA)
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Inter Milan:
- League Position: 3rd in Serie A (Chasing the leaders).
- Form: Recovering. The recent 2-0 win against Pisa was vital after back-to-back losses in the Derby and Champions League.
- Current Challenge: Right-Wing Back Crisis. With both Denzel Dumfries and Matteo Darmian injured, Chivu has a tactical headache on the right flank.
- Cup Pedigree: Inter loves this competition and will want to avoid an early exit to lower-league opposition.
Venezia:
- League Position: Promotion Contenders in Serie B.
- Form: Excellent. Wins against Mantova (3-0), Padova (2-0), and Sampdoria (3-1) show they are scoring freely.
- Current Challenge: Stepping up in class. While dominant in Serie B, facing the Italian champions at San Siro is a massive leap in quality.
Inter Milan vs Venezia — What’s at Stake
For Inter Milan:
- Squad Depth Validation: With key starters resting, fringe players like Josep Martínez, Piotr Zieliński, and Mehdi Taremi must prove they can be relied upon.
- Quarter-Final Spot: Progress ensures they remain in the hunt for silverware on multiple fronts.
For Venezia:
- The Upset: Eliminating Inter at San Siro would be the shock of the tournament and a massive confidence booster for their promotion push.
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Team Form
Inter Milan (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Pisa (2-0)3
- L vs Atlético Madrid (1-2 – CL)
- L vs AC Milan (0-1)
- W vs Lazio (2-0)
- W vs Kairat Almaty (2-1 – CL)4
Venezia (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Mantova (3-0)
- W vs Padova (2-0)
- W vs Sampdoria (3-1)
- L vs Catanzaro (1-2)
- W vs Sudtirol (3-0)
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Team News
Inter Milan:
- Injury Crisis on the Right: Matteo Darmian (Calf) and Denzel Dumfries (Ankle) are both out. This likely forces Luis Henrique or Tajon Buchanan to start as the RWB, or perhaps Yann Bisseck adapts to a wider role.
- Absences: Young striker Ange-Yoan Bonny (Illness) and defender Tomás Palacios (Thigh) are unavailable. Goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro (Wrist) is also out.
- Rotation: Expect Josep Martínez to start in goal. Kristjan Asllani and Davide Frattesi should anchor the midfield, giving Calhanoglu and Barella a rest.
Venezia:
- Casualties: Midfielder Cheick Conde is a long-term absentee with a broken leg. Bartol Franjic is also out injured.
- Questionable: Defender Marin Sverko is carrying a knock and might not be risked.
- Attack: Top scorer Joel Pohjanpalo is fit and will likely lead the line, looking to exploit any lack of chemistry in Inter’s rotated defense.
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Head to Head
- 12 Jan 2025: Venezia 0–1 Inter (Serie A)
- 04 Nov 2024: Inter 1–0 Venezia (Serie A)
- 22 Jan 2022: Inter 2–1 Venezia (Serie A)
- 28 Nov 2021: Venezia 0–2 Inter (Serie A)
- Analysis: Inter has won the last 4 meetings, but they have often been tight, low-scoring affairs (1-0, 2-1). Venezia hasn’t taken a point off Inter since 2002.
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Predicted Lineups
Inter Milan (3-5-2):
Chivu rotates heavily but maintains a strong spine.
- GK: Josep Martínez
- CB: Yann Bisseck
- CB: Stefan de Vrij (C)
- CB: Francesco Acerbi (or Bastoni)
- RWB: Luis Henrique (Forced change due to injuries)
- CM: Davide Frattesi
- CM: Kristjan Asllani
- CM: Piotr Zieliński
- LWB: Carlos Augusto
- ST: Mehdi Taremi
- ST: Francesco Pio Esposito
Venezia (3-4-2-1):
Stroppa will field his strongest available XI to compete.
- GK: Filip Stankovic
- CB: Jay Idzes
- CB: Michael Svoboda
- CB: Giorgio Altare
- RWB: Antonio Candela
- CM: Hans Nicolussi Caviglia
- CM: Alfred Duncan
- LWB: Francesco Zampano
- CAM: Gianluca Busio
- CAM: Gaetano Oristanio
- ST: Joel Pohjanpalo
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Impact Bench Options
Inter Milan:
- Lautaro Martínez: The captain will likely start on the bench but is the ultimate “break glass in case of emergency” option if Inter are struggling after 60 minutes.
- Federico Dimarco: Can provide elite delivery from the left if the game is deadlocked.
Venezia:
- Christian Gytkjær: An experienced poacher who can score scrappy goals if Venezia need to chase the game late on.
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Tactical Outlook
Inter Milan:
- Playing Style: Possession & Control. Even with a rotated side, Inter’s 3-5-2 relies on dominating the midfield. Asllani will dictate the tempo, looking to release Frattesi on his trademark runs into the box.
- Weakness: Right Flank Vulnerability. With a makeshift RWB (likely Henrique), Venezia might target that side using the speed of Zampano and Busio.
Venezia:
- Playing Style: Organized Counter. Venezia will sit in a 5-4-1 block out of possession and try to frustrate Inter. They will rely on Pohjanpalo’s hold-up play and Oristanio’s dribbling to launch counters.
- Strength: Set Pieces. Venezia have height in their backline (Idzes, Svoboda) and a target man in Pohjanpalo. Corners could be their best route to goal.
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Yann Bisseck vs. Joel Pohjanpalo | Physical Duel: Pohjanpalo is strong and savvy. Bisseck is powerful but can be rash. If Pohjanpalo pins him, Venezia can get up the pitch. | Inter |
| Davide Frattesi vs. Alfred Duncan | Engine Room: Duncan is experienced and physical. Frattesi relies on movement. This battle will decide who controls the midfield transitions. | Inter |
| Luis Henrique vs. Francesco Zampano | The Weak Link: Henrique (if he plays RWB) is not a natural defender. Zampano will test him constantly. | Venezia |
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Spotlight Players
Mehdi Taremi (Inter Milan):
The Iranian striker has been a useful squad player but needs goals to challenge Lautaro/Thuram. In games like this, his aerial ability and link-up play are crucial against a packed defense.
Gaetano Oristanio (Venezia):
The former Inter youth player returns to San Siro with a point to prove. His ability to carry the ball and shoot from distance makes him Venezia’s “X-Factor.”
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Fan Reactions
Inter Fans:
“The rotation is scary given our injuries, but we trust Bisseck and Taremi. Just win and move on.”
“No Dumfries or Darmian? Who plays on the right? Hopefully, Chivu has a plan.”
Venezia Fans:
“San Siro away… a dream fixture. We are playing great football, why not dream of a shock?”
“Pohjanpalo to score a header at the Scala del Calcio. I can feel it.”
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Match-Defining Factors
- Inter’s RWB Solution: If Venezia exploit Inter’s lack of a natural right-back, they could create serious problems.
- Early Goal: If Inter score in the first 20 minutes, Venezia’s resistance will likely crumble. The longer it stays 0-0, the more belief the visitors will grow.
- San Siro Atmosphere: Mid-week cup games can have flat atmospheres. Inter needs to generate their own intensity.
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Prediction
Score Prediction: Inter Milan 2–0 Venezia
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Inter to Win.
- Total Goals: Under 3.5 Goals (Inter’s rotated attack might lack fluidity; Venezia will defend deep).
- Anytime Goalscorer: Mehdi Taremi (Prime opportunity for the striker).
Analysis: Venezia are in great form, but the gap between Serie A champions and Serie B promotion chasers is significant. Even with a rotated squad and injury issues on the right, Inter’s midfield quality (Frattesi, Zielinski) should be enough to control the game and break down Venezia’s resistance eventually.
Inter Milan vs Venezia — Final Word
Inter Milan have too much quality to slip up here, provided they approach the game with the right attitude. Venezia will fight bravely and could threaten on the counter, but expect the Nerazzurri to book their place in the quarter-finals with a professional, if not spectacular, performance.
Inter Milan vs Venezia — FAQs
When is the Inter vs Venezia match?
The match kicks off on Wednesday, 03 December 2025, at 21:00 CET.5
Is Lautaro Martínez playing?
He is available but expected to start on the bench for rest. Mehdi Taremi is likely to start.
Where can I watch the match in India?
Coppa Italia rights vary, but it is often available on Star Sports Select or Disney+ Hotstar. Check local listings.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Can Venezia pull off the shock of the round, or will Inter cruise through? Drop your predictions below!
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