Gorini believes Ascoli match will be “like a final”

Cittadella head coach Edoardo Gorini is calling next weekend’s match against Ascoli “like a final” for the Granata.

Gorini’s men broke an 11 game winless streak on Saturday against Reggiana, beating Alessandro Nesta’s side 0-2 at the Mapei Stadium. The victory puts Cittadella in 9th place and two points from the playoff zone as six games remain in the season.

The result also puts Cittadella seven points clear of the relegation play-out zone. With Ascoli sitting in the relegation zone, Gorini is calling the match next weekend an important one.

“We have to think about next Saturday against Ascoli, which will be like a final for us,” Gorini said after the win in Reggio Emilia. “If we beat them, we are practically safe from relegation with five games remaining. For us, that would be a huge result.”

The win against Reggiana was only Cittadella’s second victory of 2024 and their first since January. Three points at the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato next Saturday can put Cittadella a possible 10 points clear of the relegation drop with five games left.

“I think 45 is enough,” Gorini said on how many points is needed for safety. “But now we need to take it game-by-game because the results are unpredictable and in Serie B, anybody can beat anyone.”

PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti