Udinese edged past Venezia 2-1 in the Coppa Italia on 3 September 2026, securing their place in the next round after a tight, entertaining cup contest in Udine. The Serie A side looked to dominate their Serie B opponents from the first whistle, but the final scoreline only partly reflected the hard work required to see off a stubborn Venezia side.

Match overview

The opening exchanges featured the expected pattern: Udinese dominated possession and pushed Venezia deep into their own half. The breakthrough came from that sustained pressure, with a striker finishing calmly after a sweeping team move. However, Venezia showed they were not in the tie just to make up the numbers. Growing into the match with a series of quick counterattacks, they levelled just before the interval when their centre-forward arrived late in the box and slotted home. The second half remained tense and competitive, with both sides trading opportunities, but it was Udinese who showed greater composure in the decisive moments, scoring the winning goal midway through the half and holding on comfortably in the closing stages.

Coppa Italia progression

Advancing in the Coppa Italia is a priority for every Serie A club, and Udinese’s victory means they remain on course in Italian football’s oldest knockout competition. The tournament offers a realistic path to silverware and European qualification for clubs who can maintain squad depth throughout the season. For Udinese, this performance, while not flawless, demonstrated exactly that kind of depth, with several second-string players stepping up and contributing valuable minutes before selection headaches increased in league play.

Venezia – what now?

Venezia left the competition with their heads held high, having made a Serie A opponent battle to the very end. Their performance against Udinese will reassure fans that they can compete against top-flight opposition on their day. However, their immediate priorities lie firmly in the Serie B calendar, where they will aim to use this cup appearance as momentum. While a cup run would have been welcome, the club’s clear ambition is to drive toward promotion, and the lessons learned at the Dacia Arena will only help that campaign.