Napoli’s Title Hopes Dented by Goalless Stalemate Against Venezia

Napoli experienced a setback in their quest for the Scudetto as a resilient Venezia side held them to a 0-0 draw in a gripping contest at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo. This match marked the first time since November 2001 that the hosts have gone three consecutive games at home without scoring.

The match began with Venezia showing great intent, but it was Giacomo Raspadori who nearly sent a shockwave through the home crowd with a powerful left-footed shot that struck the left post before bouncing back into play.

Shortly after, Scott McTominay put Venezia’s goalkeeper Ionut Radu to the test with two strong headers from set pieces, forcing the shot-stopper into a couple of outstanding saves as Napoli sought to keep pace with league leaders Inter Milan.

However, the Lagunari came closest to scoring just before the interval when Kike Perez connected with a cross in the box and sent a low shot towards the bottom-right corner, only for Alex Meret to make an easy save.

Just seconds later, Amir Rrahmani was there to clear Daniel Fila’s effort off the goal line following a chaotic scramble in the penalty area.

Despite all the pressure, Napoli almost took the lead just before the half-time whistle when Romelu Lukaku’s header was spectacularly saved by Radu on the goal line, bringing an exciting first half to a close.

After the break, Antonio Conte’s side intensified their efforts, dominating possession but lacking the clinical touch in the attacking third.

Venezia, who are on an 11-match winless streak, began with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Napoli in their previous meeting in December. As the second half progressed, it became apparent that the home side was increasingly on the back foot. Nevertheless, the introduction of fresh legs from Eusebio Di Francesco with 20 minutes remaining revitalised Venezia’s attack, disrupting Napoli’s defensive rhythm and shifting the tide of the match.

Ultimately, neither team could find a winner, resulting in their first draw in this fixture since December 2003 in Serie B.

Napoli’s ambitions of reclaiming the Scudetto have been set back further, as they face stiff competition from both Atalanta and Inter Milan following their seventh stalemate of the season. Meanwhile, Venezia remains five points away from safety, with their return to the second tier of Italian football becoming ever more likely as the rounds progress.