Bjarki Bjarkason has urged Venezia to cut out the mistakes when high-flying Cesena arrive at the Pier Luigi Penzo on Saturday.

Midfielder Bjarkason scored the Venetians’ first Serie B goal of the campaign, sending them on their way to an opening-day win over Bari after kicking off the season with a Coppa Italia victory against Mantova.

But a goalless draw with Juve Stabia was followed by last week’s 2-2 at Pescara where Giovanni Stroppa’s side had looked home and hosed, two goals to the good with 11 minutes left.

Iceland international Bjarkason said: “It’s true that when you can’t win it’s still important not to lose but in the next match we need to find again the rhythm we showed against Bari and Mantova.

“We are working well, even though there are still some aspects to improve and small mistakes, like the ones we made in Pescara. This week we reviewed those mistakes and we’ll try to learn from them, working well together: this way things will go for the best.”

Striker Andrea Adorante was on the same page as his team-mate. The striker, who arrived in Venice from Juve Stabia during the summer, opened the scoring at Pescara from the penalty spot.

He said: “The important thing is to take home the positives and work during the week on the mistakes we made. We need to be able to stay focused for the whole match, without dropping the tempo against any team.”

Cesena have fared slightly better over the opening three games and are one of four teams sharing top spot on seven points.

Early signs point to a repeat of last season’s run to the play-offs for the Seahorses and Bjarkason added on his club website: “Cesena is a quality team, they already proved it last year and are confirming it in these first three matches of the new season. But we must focus only on ourselves, on our game and on our teamwork. If we stay united and do what we have to, I’m sure we will play a great match.”

Cesena’s seventh-place finish back in May was all the more impressive considering they were in Serie C in 2023-24, and they have started this campaign with victories at Pescara and Sampdoria either side of a draw at home to Virtus Entella, when they were only pegged back to 1-1 in injury time.

Veteran midfielder Michele Castagnetti made his debut against Sampdoria last weekend and opened the scoring in the 2-1 win. The 35-year-old former Cremonese favourite is expecting a tough tussle when they head for the lagoon.

He said: “Wanting to defend together and from there create space to attack must be the basis because the games are all very evenly matched. In Serie B, more teams are on the same level, so the difference is made by attitude and the desire to win, as well as the willingness to tackle and fight together.”

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