Spezia vs Cittadella | Match Preview
On February 16, 2024 by Jake IovineMatch: Spezia vs Cittadella – Serie BKT Matchday 25
Date: February 17, 2024 – 14:00 local (8:00am EST)
Venue: Stadio Alberto Picco – La Spezia
Spezia hosts Cittadella at the Stadio Alberto Picco on Saturday afternoon for the 25th Matchday of the Serie B season.
The Granata have lost four straight games coming into the weekend, having last been defeat by Parma at home. Edoardo Gorini’s side will have to travel to Liguria this weekend without three key defenders for the match against Le Aquile.
“[Nicola] Pavan and [Stefano] Negro won’t be at the match tomorrow,” Gorini said in his pre-match press conference. “[Alessandro] Salvi will also miss the match due to this week having the flu with a high fever.”
Despite being in a run of poor form, Gorini’s side still remains in the playoff zone with a four point cushion. Spezia will start the weekend inside the relegation zone and will be looking to leapfrog Ascoli and Ternana in the standings.
Saturday will be the first time Cittadella plays away to Spezia since January 2020, which saw both sides play to a 1-1 draw. The last meeting between the two clubs ended in a 4-1 win for Cittadella two days before Christmas, with goals coming from Giuseppe Carriero, Filippo Pittarello and Tommy Maistrello.
After having already beaten Spezia this season, Gorini expects a different match this time against Le Aquile.
“It will be a different game than the one in December,” Gorini said. “Until the 75th minute when Pittarello scored, it was a tight game.”
Spezia was one of the busier teams during the winter transfer market in Serie B. The Ligurian club made nine new signings in January as they try to escape the relegation zone. Luca D’Angelo’s men are looking for their first home win of 2024, with their latest coming on December 15 against Bari.
Cittadella has not won a road trip since the start of December against Feralpisalo. The Granata have scored only two goals from their last four away matches, having lost the last trip to Brescia 2-0.
PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti