Venezia return to work with their season under pressure and a demanding Monday night trip to Atalanta ahead of them, but Antoine Hainaut has emerged as one of Giovanni Stroppa’s few established certainties during a difficult spell.
Five defeats have placed renewed scrutiny on Stroppa’s position, making the visit to Bergamo an important moment for a side seeking both points and a steadier direction. The coach will begin preparations with part of his international contingent returning, while several injury concerns must still be assessed before the squad is selected.
Hainaut is expected to remain central to the plan. The former Parma player has started every league match so far, contributing one goal and one assist. He was Venezia’s standout performer in the recent fixtures against Fiorentina and Lazio, and has been taken off only once: five minutes before the end of the match with Lecce.
That workload reflects the responsibility carried by a wing-back required to contribute at both ends of the pitch. It also follows the pattern of his promotion campaign in Serie B last season, when he made 37 appearances, started 36 times and produced five goals alongside six assists.
International returns and fitness checks
Stroppa has already welcomed back some players from international duty, with others due to rejoin the group shortly. John Yeboah featured for Ecuador in Japan on Monday, while Mikael Egill Ellertsson Helgason and Sagrado remained unused substitutes for Iceland and Belgium Under-21s respectively.
Akor Adams did make an impact for Nigeria, scoring a late equaliser in their 3-3 draw with Russia.
Before facing Atalanta, Venezia must also determine which injured players can be involved. Pasquale Mazzocchi, Toma Basic, Matteo Dagasso, Ridgeciano Haps, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Schingtienne are all being monitored as possible recoveries.
More questions on the left
While Hainaut has made the right flank his own, the situation on the opposite side remains less clear. Haps’ condition will need to be checked after the break, and Sagrado returns from Belgium Under-21 duty as another option.
Correia is pushing for a place in the starting line-up, while Mazzocchi could also enter the discussion if he proves fit. For Venezia, the decisions on that side of the field will form part of a wider attempt to arrive in Bergamo with greater balance and fewer uncertainties.
