Cittadella’s best five moments of 2023.
On December 31, 2023 by Jake IovineIt has been a very eventful 2023 for A.S. Cittadella.
The club celebrated its 50th anniversary after a long season battling relegation, but now ends the calendar year in 4th place with playoffs in sight.
Here are CittaCalcioUsa’s top FIVE moments of 2023 for Cittadella.
#5: Comeback vs Reggina – February 18th
The 2022/23 season was one of the club’s worst in recent times. Sitting in 19th after 19 games, Cittadella had to get the winter market right and climb up the table to avoid relegation to Serie C.
The Granata started 2023 gaining eight points out of a possible 15, getting them right back into the race for safety. A home match against promotion contenders Reggina in mid February was about to set the way for the club for the rest of the season.
Edoardo Gorini’s side had a nightmare first half – conceding twice thanks to goals from Giovanni Fabbian and Hernani. It seemed like another loss was on its way, but a red card to Fabbian at the end of the first half changed the complexion of the match.
Cittadella got a goal two minutes after the break with a rocket from newly signed Giovanni Crociata. The midfielder would score again from a free kick on the edge of the box, getting the Granata level with more than 20 minutes to go.
The second half turnaround was capped off by Giuseppe Carriero, who received a pass from Crociata and fired home the winner in the 87th minute. Cittadella completely turned the game upside-down, continuing their great form in the new year. This win would ignite new belief in the squad that survival was more than possible, which ultimately led the way to clinching safety on the final day.
PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti
#4: A famous win at the Marassi – September 18th
A trip to Genova to face Andrea Pirlo’s Sampdoria seemed like a daunting task for Cittadella, considering the Blucerchiati were one of the favorites to be promoted back to Serie A.
Gorini’s side went behind late in the first half, and it seemed like Cittadella was heading for just a second loss of the season.
However, the tide shifted after halftime as Andrea Magrassi scored three minutes after the break. Pressing for more, captain Simone Branca gave the Granata the lead from a sensational volley outside the box, stunning the Marassi crowd.
Cittadella managed a late Sampdoria scare and held on for the victory. This was the second time in less than a year that the Granata took home three points in Genova, having beaten Genoa in the previous season.
It was a famous Monday night for the club, one that nobody will ever forget.
#3: Eight unbeaten to end the year – December
Cittadella is currently enjoying an eight game unbeaten streak to end 2023: the most under Gorini in all competitions.
After surviving the drop last season, there were questions revolving on how the club would preform in Gorini’s third year as coach. As the club enters the new year, Cittadella sits in 4th place and on track to make the promotion playoffs for the first time since 2021.
After narrowly being defeated by Cremonese in the Coppa Italia on Halloween, Cittadella has picked up 20 out of a possible 24 points. These results has pushed the Granata up the Serie B table, making way for an exciting new year.
#2: Siamo salvi! – May 19th
After a long season of grinding, Cittadella finally confirmed themselves safe from relegation on the final match of the 22/23 season, drawing 0-0 against Como.
Gorini’s side went undefeated in their last four matches of last season, picking up important draws against promotion battlers Bari and Sudtirol. Going into the final match, a point was only needed against Como at the Tombolato to confirm an eighth straight Serie B season.
A tense game which saw both sides have opportunities to score, the match ended goalless. It was enough for Cittadella to successfully survive relegation after a difficult season.
From sitting second-to-last after 19 games, to getting out of the relegation battle entirely, all the emotions came out following the match as the players, staff and fans celebrated on the pitch.
PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti
#1: 50th anniversary celebrations – June/July
The celebrations from the ‘salvezza’ party continued into the offseason, as it was official that Cittadella would be celebrating its 50th birthday in Serie B.
50 years on from the fusion between U.S. Cittadellese and Olympia Cittadella led by Angelo Gabrielli, the club held multiple events in the summer celebrating a half-century of Granata history.
On the night of July 16th, the club hosted an opening ceremony with the players at the Tombolato, where fans packed the stadium for the celebrations. There, the official club theme song written by a selected number of fans was played for the first time, while many fireworks were lit off into the night sky.
The players left for preseason training in Lavarone shortly after, getting a nice sendoff for what was a historic month for Cittadella.
RECAP:
2023 started with lots of questions on where Cittadella would be by the end of the year. After achieving safety, the club happily celebrated 50 years as a Serie B club with no thoughts of slowing down the progress.
The 50th anniversary celebrations in 2023 have also been helped by a much improved season, as Cittadella continue to push themselves up the standings. It’s no doubt that this club will be continuing to write history, as another year of calcio in this small Venetian town commences.