While the Tuscans were in decline following three consecutive losses, the Lagunari had just been reinvigorated and unfortunate in a narrow 1-0 loss to Napoli. The hosts were without Domen Crnigoj, Alfred Duncan, and Michael Svoboda. Ola Solbakken, Jacopo Fazzini, Tyronne Ebuehi, Szymon Zurkowski, Saba Sazonov, Nicolas Haas, and Pietro Pellegri were among the long list of Empoli players that were absent. Devis Vasquez, the custodian, took a long time to clear after the back pass and blasted it straight at Joel Pohjanpalo, with the bounce flying straight into the net from nine yards out, giving Venezia the first goal after five minutes.
Tino Anjorin's curler was successfully blocked, but a few seconds later, Filip Stankovic threw away the ball with a shoddy clearing, and Jay Idzes saved him almost off the line on Lorenzo Colombo.