Serie B – Round 19

26/12/23

Reggiana-Catanzaro
On the road, with 10 against 11, after almost two months without a win: with the 3-2 victory in Bolzano, Reggiana found a reason to smile in the most challenging moment. 3 crucial points for survival underline the mental strength of Nesta's boys: the team is there. The same result, but on the negative side, last Saturday for Vivarini's Catanzaro: leading 2-0 at the end of the first half, the yellow and reds disappeared in the second half, giving way to Brescia's comeback. A self-destructive act that weighs in the promotion race, the second consecutive defeat: now Vandeputte and his teammates must react on a difficult field (the Granata have lost only one of their last 8 home matches). An open game, with goals expected, where Reggiana's tactical organization will try to compensate for the quality of the guests.

Ascoli-Cittadella
Narrowly defeated (1-0) in Pisa without deserving it, Ascoli has fallen back to the penultimate position and urgently needs to improve its position in 2023. However, they face the most in-form team in Serie B at Del Duca: statistically (33 points, 6 wins in the last 7), this Cittadella is now considered an high-ranking outsider. The 4-1 against Spezia shows that Gorini's men have no intention of stopping the fun. Even in Ascoli, where a setback would not be a disaster, and the white and blacks will play with their backs against the wall. Without expecting a necessarily high-scoring match, goals from both teams should be considered.

Brescia-Parma
Euphoria from the Lion, a playoff comeback: the last-minute 3-2 victory on Catanzaro's field could be the turning point of Brescia's season. With Maran on the sidelines, they no longer know how to lose (4 wins, 3 draws), and now they are just 2 points away from the eighth position. A tough, well-coached team that never gives up. The league leaders, Parma, will also face a tough challenge, as they are expected at Rigamonti in the last match of the year. The yellow and blues strengthened their first position with a good 3-1 against Ternana, ending a streak of 6 points in 5 games. However, their form is not at its best, and the lead over pursuers is enough to allow for a setback in a challenging stadium. A high-level match is coming, leaning towards a draw or a home team victory.

Cosenza-Como
A good point earned in Bari (another 0-0, after the one against Parma), and Cosenza can breathe again. Caserta's boys have lost the sparkle of the early season, dealing with a confirmed offensive sterility (0 goals in the last 3 games), but they are reacting as a team to difficulties. On the other hand, Como had a rollercoaster last day, equalizing against Palermo at 92' while waiting for Roberts on the bench. Cutrone and his teammates are now tied for third place with Cremonese and Cittadella: they need to start running again to keep up with the competition. For this reason, the balance leans towards the visitors, but Cosenza is learning to defend, and Como, away from home, creates and concedes little. Signs suggest a low-scoring game.

FeralpiSalò-Venezia
Just two weeks ago, FeralpiSalò seemed like a doomed team, facing a prohibitive schedule. However, Zaffaroni's boys ignited when no one believed anymore: they beat Cremonese at home (1-0) and, most notably, Sampdoria at Marassi (2-3, taking advantage of numerical superiority) in what is probably the most prestigious victory in the club's history. "Forbidden to become arrogant," says the coach. Rightly so, because Feralpi is still last but finally in contact with the playoff zone (-4). On Tuesday, Venezia, currently second, arrives in Piacenza. A potentially high-scoring match, but with a much more uncertain outcome than the clear technical and ranking gap suggests: the orange and black are going through a physical and results slump (1 point in the last three, a 2-2 draw on Saturday against Lecco). If this Feralpi can slay giants, the suggestion of a "third time's the charm" arises.

Lecco-Sudtirol
Lecco regains points and morale, showing resilience with a hard-fought 2-2 in Venice, proving to be a competitive team regardless of the descending trajectory (only one victory in the last 6). On the other side, Sudtirol faces a psychodrama, erasing the victory against Venezia with a nightmare 2-3: losing in Lecco would drag the white and reds into the playoff zone. Despite Casiraghi's goals (already 10), the coaching change has not restored sufficient tactical balance. A significant stake for both teams, the risk of a disorderly match with episodes is high: considering their defensive lapses (28 goals conceded at home for the hosts, 26 for the visitors), a match with at least 2-3 total goals is likely.

Spezia-Modena
Self-analysis for the white and blacks, after the heavy 4-1 loss in Cittadella that sweeps away the certainties of the previous two consecutive victories. And it sends Spezia back into the relegation zone. Similarly unexpected, Modena also suffered a heavy defeat in Cremona, with their playoff position now at risk for the first time. Given the toll of the last match and the characteristics of the two teams (Spezia at home has conceded only 3 goals in the last 6, while Modena struggles in attack), leaning towards under seems reasonable. This match, with a significant point difference in the standings (16 points to 27 in favor of Modena), may not have a major impact.

Ternana-Pisa
The usual Raimondo creates hope, then Parma unleashes, and thus the first defeat under Breda's management comes at the home of the league leaders: no drama. However, Ternana must continue the recent positive trend that has brought the team from the bottom of the table to the brink of salvation. In this perspective, it is crucial to get a result immediately against Pisa at the Liberati, who are breathing easier, 4 points ahead, thanks to the victory over Ascoli (1-0) that saved Aquilani's job. However, the form heavily favors the red and greens (9 points to 4 in the last 4 games) and their offensive style of play. Confidence in an over, with a slight inclination towards the home team's victory.

Palermo-Cremonese
Palermo regrets missed opportunities: the second consecutive away game against a strong opponent (from Parma to Como) ended in a 3-3 draw, with the away victory slipping away again in injury time. The positive side is that the performances have returned, the team is in good shape (especially with goals from midfielders, Segre above all), and the third position is once again in sight. However, they need to beat a Cremonese team on a hot streak: the convincing 4-0 win against Modena is their sixth victory in the last 8, during which they kept a clean sheet in all eight games. The opposite is true for Palermo, which has conceded 8 goals in the last 3 matches. Big match at the Barbera with all scenarios on the table and a tendency towards goals: this Palermo in attack is back to being fearsome.

Samp-Bari
Kasami's expulsion at 32' changes nothing about the final verdict: falling at home against FeralpiSalò (2-3) at this point in the season is a blow for Samp. The blucerchiati lose touch with the playoff train and are tied at 22 points with Bari (0-0 at home against Cosenza), which has different but equally significant issues (only one victory in the last 6, with 4 in the last 5 without scoring). Given the delicacy of both teams' situations, a cautious game with few goal-scoring opportunities is expected, where more than 3 total goals would be a surprise. Samp will play to win, but a draw could be on the cards.