Cittadella enters international break ten games winless after 1-1 draw with Modena

Cittadella drew 1-1 with Modena on Saturday afternoon in the last match before the March international break, extending their winless run to 10 games.

The Granata took the lead through Francesco Amatucci’s header in the 13th minute, before Modena equalized minutes before half-time. It was Amatucci’s first goal since the home opener against Reggiana in August.

Cittadella have now gone winless in 10 games, which is the first time it has happened to the club since the 2014/15 Serie B season.

“I feel some regret for the Modena goal, because it was preventable,” Cittadella head coach Edoardo Gorini said after the 1-1 match. “If you go into half-time winning 1-0, it’s a different game.”

Amatucci got a flicked on header from Lorenzo Carissoni’s cross to put the Granata into the lead. It was the first Cittadella goal from open play in their last five games.

Modena got their equalizer three minutes from half-time from Luca Magnino. The midfielder was left unmarked inside the box and finished a header from Niccolo Corrado’s cross following the counter attack.

The Granata had not beaten Modena in their last ten meetings with the Emilia-Romagna club, with their last victory coming in 2011. Saturday was the sixth straight draw between the two clubs in Serie B.

Cittadella will remain in 10th position going into the March international break, one point ahead of Modena in 13th. Gorini’s side still remains a single point outside the play-off zone with eight games remaining in Serie B.

“These aren’t costly points, the standings are very tight,” Gorini said. “The key moments decide the matches. We need to be better in these moments in attack and defense.”

Cittadella will get a break next weekend before getting ready for the home stretch in the regular season. The Granata are back on April 1 at the Stadio Rigamonti Ceppi against Lecco.

“You always take it one game at a time,” Gorini said. “Now we must go to Lecco and try to win the game. It doesn’t matter if they are playing well or not, we need to try and bring home the three points.”

PHOTO: Paola Garbuio/LaPresse