Lecce stun Venezia 2-0 in Serie A relegation battle upset

Venezia had two goals disallowed and saw Lecce score twice against the run of play in the second half, in what could be a big result for the relegation battle.

The Lagunari won the Serie B title last term to earn promotion back into the top flight, already starting their season with a 3-2 Coppa Italia victory over Modena last week. Andrea Adorante and Marin Sverko were injured, with Matias Moreno fit for the bench.

Lecce’s summer was overshadowed by the contract dispute with Lameck Banda and a serious injury to Medon Berisha. Their campaign already got off to a rough start with a 2-0 Coppa Italia exit to Palermo.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

VENICE, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Head coach of Venezia FC Givanni Stroppa and head coach of US Lecce Eusebio Di Francesco during the Serie A match between Venezia FC and US Lecce at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on August 23, 2026 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) Antoine Hainaut’s angled drive skimmed the far post after springing the offside trap, then Thierry Correia did have the ball in the net when meeting the John Yeboah assist, but it was disallowed as it bounced off his hand in the build-up.

Wladimiro Falcone also had to make a save on the Yeboah counter-attack, then Gianluca Busio dribbled past four only to then bend the finish inches wide of the far post.

Against the run of play, Lecce nearly took the lead on 36 minutes when Lassana Coulibaly hooked down a corner and smashed it against the base of the back post. Antonino Gallo was forced off at half-time after a cut to his eyebrow in an accidental collision with Kike Perez.

VENICE, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Toma Basic of Venezia FC competes for the ball with Willem Geubbels of US Lecce during the Serie A match between Venezia FC and US Lecce at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on August 23, 2026 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) Within moments of the restart, Lecce had taken the lead when Armel Bella-Kotchap’s weak clearance fell to Olaf Gorter on the edge of the area, his scuffed finish making its way through a sea of legs into the far bottom corner.

Busio couldn’t keep his free kick down, with Bella-Kotchap sprinting back for a crucial tackle on Willem Geubbels, but Falcone had to make a huge reaction save on the Bartol Franjic header from close range.

Venezia had the ball in the net on 75 minutes with Toma Basic, but the offside flag went up and was confirmed by VAR, the second disallowed goal for the Lagunari in this match.

VENICE, ITALY – AUGUST 23: John Yeboah of Venezia FC competes for the ball with Lassana Coulibaly of US Lecce during the Serie A match between Venezia FC and US Lecce at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on August 23, 2026 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) Filip Stankovic showed his inexperience with an error that saw him stranded on the Santiago Pierotti lob, saved by the Busio goal-line clearance, then got back in time to make the follow-up save.

On the resulting short corner, Lecce doubled their lead when Danilo Veiga stood up the cross for Tiago Gabriel’s header at the back post.

VENICE, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Olaf Gorter of US Lecce celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal during the Serie A match between Venezia FC and US Lecce at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on August 23, 2026 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) It should’ve been 3-0, but Nikola Stulic shinned over the bar from six yards on a low cross from the right, then moments later managed to bundle it wide from a yard round the far post on a Youssef Maleh assist.

Falcone kept the clean sheet intact with another big reaction save on the Ridgeciano Haps header.

Venezia 0-2 Lecce Gorter 46 (L), Tiago Gabriel 80 (L)

23-08-2026 17:30

MatchDay 1

Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo

Venezia

Lecce

0 - 2

Player statistic

1st half

3'

Kialonda Gaspar

2nd half

46'

Olaf Gorter (Assist: Lassana Coulibaly)

59'

Oumar Ngom

71'

Danilo Veiga

Matteo Dagasso

78'

80'

Tiago Gabriel

Venezia

Lecce

Starting lineups

1

Filip Stankovic Goalkeeper

Armel Bella-Kotchap Defender

3

Joel Schingtienne Defender

Thierry Correia Defender

64'

18

Antoine Hainaut Midfielder

85'

4

Bartol Franjic Midfielder

6

Gianluca Busio Midfielder

10

John Yeboah Midfielder

71

Kike Pérez Midfielder

70'

Toma Basic Midfielder

85'

Akor Adams Attacker

30

Wladimiro Falcone Goalkeeper

25

Antonino Gallo Defender

46'

17

Danilo Veiga Defender

5

Jamil Siebert Defender

4

Kialonda Gaspar Defender

29

Lassana Coulibaly Midfielder

28

Olaf Gorter Midfielder

62'

79

Oumar Ngom Midfielder

11

Konan N’Dri Attacker

74'

50

Santiago Pierotti Attacker

90'

69

Willem Geubbels Attacker

74'

Substitutes

Simone Panada Midfielder

Lorenzo Montipò Goalkeeper

Simon Sohm Midfielder

Thórir Jóhann Helgason Midfielder

Alvin Okoro Attacker

11

Marko Farji Attacker

Kornel Lisman Midfielder

Lamine Fanne Midfielder

29

Lion Lauberbach Attacker

Redouane Halhal Defender

Ale Gomes Defender

5

Ridgeciano Haps Defender

64'

28

Matteo Dagasso Midfielder

70'

Albion Rrahmani Attacker

85'

20

Richie Sagrado Defender

85'

1

Marco Bleve Goalkeeper

8

Sadik Fofana Defender

33

Plamen Penev Goalkeeper

34

Hjalte Lærke Attacker

22

Paco Esteban Attacker

3

Corrie Ndaba Defender

46'

14

Youssef Maleh Midfielder

62'

44

Tiago Gabriel Defender

74'

9

Nikola Stulic Attacker

74'

16

Omri Gandelman Midfielder

90'