Venezia 8-0 Vis Pesaro: Pre-Season Statement as Serie A New Boys Run Riot

Venezia kicked off their 2026 pre-season preparations in emphatic fashion on July 23, dismantling third-tier side Vis Pesaro 8-0 in an international club friendly played under the summer sun. The result underlined the gulf in class between the two sides and offered a glimpse of the attacking firepower coach Eusebio Di Francesco will have at his disposal ahead of the upcoming Serie A campaign.

Match Overview

The friendly, staged at Venezia’s training base, was never expected to be a contest, but the manner in which the Lagunari swept aside their lower-league opponents was nonetheless impressive. From the first whistle, Venezia pressed high, moved the ball with pace, and exploited every defensive hole Vis Pesaro left open. The scoreline could have been even heavier, with several efforts hitting the woodwork and a handful of clear chances spurned.

Key Moments

• Early Breakthrough (12′): Venezia opened the scoring through a well-worked set-piece. A corner was flicked on at the near post, and defender Gianluca Busio bundled the ball over the line from close range.
• Quickfire Double (21′, 24′): Finnish winger Joel Pohjanpalo doubled the lead with a clinical left-footed finish, before young midfielder Gaetano Oristanio added a third with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
• First-Half Blitz (37′): Captain Marco Modolo rose highest to power home a header, making it 4-0 before the interval.
• Second-Half Onslaught (52′, 67′, 79′): The floodgates reopened after the break. Substitute striker Domen Črnigoj scored twice—one a tap-in, the other a long-range strike—while John Yeboah added a seventh with a solo run.
• Eighth Goal (85′): Youngster Andrea Fantacci completed the rout with a cool finish after being played through by a defence-splitting pass.

Standout Performances

While the entire Venezia team impressed, a few individuals stood out. Joel Pohjanpalo looked sharp after a summer rest, leading the line intelligently and linking play well. Gaetano Oristanio showcased the technical ability that has made him one of Italy’s brightest prospects, constantly drifting into dangerous pockets of space. On the flanks, new signing John Yeboah terrorized the Vis Pesaro full-back with his pace and directness, finishing with a goal and two assists.

Tactical Observations

Di Francesco set his team up in a fluid 4-3-3 that often became a 2-3-5 in possession. The full-backs pushed high, and the midfield rotated relentlessly to create overloads. Vis Pesaro, to their credit, attempted to play out from the back but were repeatedly caught in possession by Venezia’s aggressive counter-press. The 8-0 margin was as much a product of superior fitness and organisation as it was individual quality.

What It Means

Friendlies can be deceptive, but for Venezia—a club that earned promotion back to Serie A in 2025—this performance was an ideal confidence booster. The team will face sterner tests in the coming weeks, but the attacking cohesion on display bodes well. For Vis Pesaro, the friendly served as a harsh lesson in the step-up required when facing top-flight opposition; they will hope to learn from the experience as they prepare for their own Serie C season.

Next up for Venezia is a closed-door friendly against a Bundesliga opponent, where Di Francesco will likely rotate his squad and continue refining his tactics before the Serie A curtain raiser in August.