Serie B – Round 25

Ascoli vs. Cremonese - 16/02/24, CET 19:30
A potential upset was in the air in Catanzaro, but Valzania's expulsion ruined everything, and the Bianconeri collapsed in the final moments (3-2): a heavy blow to their fight against relegation. After their triumph against Como, Ascoli stumbled with two consecutive losses and now faces a tough opponent like Cremonese, hovering just above the relegation zone. There's immense pressure on Pedro Mendes and his teammates. The visitors also have reasons to be disappointed with their recent draw against Reggiana (1-1), ending a streak of 4 consecutive victories. Resuming their chase for the Del Duca will be crucial for their second-place aspirations. A draw or an away win is likely, without expecting a landslide victory.

Bari vs. FeralpiSalò - 17/02/24, CET 13:00
A sensational debut for Beppe Iachini on the Puglia bench: a 3-0 win against Lecco, combined with favorable results from other matches, suddenly places them just one victory away from the playoffs. A repeat performance is expected at the San Nicola Stadium against a resilient FeralpiSalò, who even managed to defeat the prestigious Palermo (1-2) and is ready to put up a strong fight. The Biancorossi have a stronger defense - conceding 29 goals compared to Bari's 40 - but Iachini's adaptation of the 4-3-3 formation has shown promise in attack. Puscas, Menez, and Benali are key players for the postseason. Bari is favored to win, albeit possibly with some difficulty.

Lecco vs. Cosenza - 17/02/24, CET 13:00
Bari's defeat came at a high cost for Emiliano Bonazzoli, who was sacked after 5 consecutive losses that pushed Lecco to the bottom of the table. Alfredo Aglietti steps in with little time to waste, facing Cosenza, where Novakovich and his teammates must stop the bleeding. It won't be an easy task as the Calabrians are on a positive streak with 4 unbeaten matches and have regained their defensive solidity from earlier in the season. Gennaro Tutino, with 10 goals in Serie B, is in fine form. Expect an unstable match with goals, as Lecco seeks to restore their pride and Cosenza aims to capitalize on Lecco's porous defense, the leakiest in the league (46 goals conceded).

Parma vs. Pisa - 17/02/24, CET 13:00
The Gialloblù raiders secured a victory in Cittadella (1-2), extending their lead at the top to 6 points. The midfielders, Bernabé and Hernani, scored in the last match, inspired by Benedyczak's usual creativity. Mister Pecchia has multiple options at his disposal every weekend. On the other hand, Pisa carries the responsibility of being the spoiler. Despite a silent treatment from Coach Aquilani, Pisa arrives at the Tardini Stadium in their best form of the season, with only one loss in their last 7 matches and sitting just 2 points outside the playoff zone. The draw in the first leg was a missed opportunity for Pisa, and they will aim to replicate their performance. Parma remains the clear favorite, but Pisa might still find the net.

Reggiana vs. Ternana - 17/02/24, CET 13:00
A proud showing from the Granata in Cremona: Reggiana held their ground against Cremonese (1-1), extending their unbeaten streak to 7 matches. This run places Nesta's boys within striking distance of the playoff zone. Saturday's match against Ternana will be crucial for maintaining their hopes alive and definitively escaping the specter of relegation playoffs. Conversely, Ternana could narrow the gap to 5 points with a win at the Mapei Stadium, as they lament the 3 points that slipped away in the 95th minute against Spezia. Expect an unstable match with both teams likely to score.

Spezia-Cittadella - 17/02/24, CET 13:00
A late equalizer by Di Serio, and Spezia (1-1) remains tied to the relegation playoff zone after their match in Terni. Signs of recovery for D'Angelo's boys, who are on a positive streak of three games: their next target is to secure a home victory, which has been missing for two months now. Cittadella, on the other hand, is a wounded opponent, having suffered four consecutive defeats. However, despite the poor results, Pittarello and his teammates have maintained their performance level, albeit with little reward. To secure their playoff position, Coach Gorini must raise the bar in terms of mentality. Despite having the worst attack in the category (21 goals), Spezia seems to have found the necessary momentum to aim for a positive result. It will be a hard-fought match, difficult to predict, possibly favoring the under if the Venetians don't take risks.

Catanzaro-Sudtirol - 17/02/24, CET 15:15
With a thrilling comeback, the Giallorossi emerged victorious against Ascoli (3-2) and jumped to sixth place. Saturday aims for the fourth consecutive positive result: an achievable goal, considering Sudtirol's recent downturn, as evidenced by their 0-3 defeat to Venezia. Expect an open match with high intensity, with Catanzaro being the favorite, although Sudtirol has often proven to be dangerous away from home, accumulating 15 points in 12 matches. Additionally, there's the showdown between the top scorers: Iemmello (7 goals and 4 assists) facing off against Casiraghi (12 goals and 5 assists). Indications point to a match with a medium to high score.

Palermo-Como - 17/02/24, CET 15:15
The highlight of the day takes place at the Barbera, where Palermo seeks to climb to the second position by defeating Como. The Rosanero have been flawless in Sicily recently, winning four consecutive matches, and have performed well in direct clashes, defeating Cremonese and Venezia, narrowly missing a victory against Parma and Como in the first leg (both ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw). Lombardy, however, owes its recent success to market moves: the last two 1-0 victories came from former Lecce player Strefezza, who has set his sights on Serie A. The hosts are more effective in attack (42 goals scored to 33), while the visitors are more solid defensively (29 goals conceded to 25). Both teams possess strong mentalities, promising a genuine match with at least one goal from each side and the result hanging in the balance until the end.

Sampdoria-Brescia - 17/02/24, CET 15:15
Reduced to ten men for the entire second half, Sampdoria fell to Pisa (2-0), complicating their playoff mission - they are six points adrift, with seven teams ahead of them. Therefore, the direct clash against Brescia becomes crucial, as they slipped to ninth place after losing to Como (1-0). The Blucerchiati continue to struggle defensively, conceding goals in eight consecutive matches, but Brescia has only scored in three of their last six matches. Given the significance of the match and the tactical caution of Maran's team, it's likely that defenses will prevail over attacks. Therefore, expect a balanced match with three or fewer total goals.

Venezia-Modena - 18/02/24, CET 15:15
Pohjanpalo unlocked his scoring with a brace, and Venezia roared back to a 3-0 victory against Bolzano, bringing them within one point of direct promotion. Another significant fact: for the second time in the last three matches, the Arancioneroverdi kept a clean sheet. This is crucial to maintaining their high positions, which were somewhat dispersed around the new year but are now tangible again, thanks in part to Idzes' return - crucial in defense. After a period of decline, Modena has also risen, collecting 5 points in their last three matches, placing them on the edge of eighth place. The match at the Penzo promises high intensity due to the higher technical level and the successful change in formation (from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2), which favors a Venezia victory, albeit not necessarily an easy one, with a medium to low score trend.