Cittadella vs Feralpisalo | Match Preview
On April 26, 2024 by Jake IovineMatch: Cittadella vs Feralpisalo – Serie BKT Matchday 35
Date: April 27, 2024 – 16:15 local (10:15am EST)
Venue: Stadio Piercesare Tombolato – Cittadella
Cittadella host Feralpisalo at the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato on Saturday afternoon in a huge match for both sides.
The Granata drew goalless for the second straight time last weekend against Sudtirol, putting Edoardo Gorini’s side one point below the play-off zone. Feralpisalo were defeated by Como last Saturday, keeping Marco Zaffaroni’s side in the relegation zone going into the weekend.
Gorini will be looking to reach the promotion play-offs for the first time as Cittadella head coach. Four games remain in Serie B with the Granata hunting down 7th and 8th place.
“We don’t play for draws,” Gorini said in his pre-match press conference. “The way we’ve been playing has given us some stability after that stretch of negative results.”
Cittadella have only won once in their previous 14 games. The negative run of form has plummeted the club outside the play-off zone after being as high as 4th place in January.
The last meeting between Cittadella and Feralpisalo came in December, where Luca Pandolfi’s only goal was enough for the Granata to secure three points in Piacenza. Saturday will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two clubs.
Feralpisalo have picked up away wins against difficult teams such as Cremonese, Modena and Spezia this year. The Verdazzurri sit five points adrift of the relegation play-out zone with four games remaining as Zaffaroni’s side trys to achieve safety in the club’s first season in Serie B.
Zaffaroni will be missing a couple players for the match at the Tombolato. Attacker Giacomo Manzari will sit out, as well as midfielders Mattia Tonetto, Davide Di Molfetta and Federico Carraro. Cittadella will be without Andrea Danzi, Stefano Negro, Domenico Frare, Enrico Baldini and possibly Alessandro Salvi, Gorini confirmed on Friday.
The Granata could be mathematically safe from relegation on Saturday. A win against Feralpisalo would practically seal the deal, and dropped points from Spezia, Bari and/or Ternana can ensure Cittadella at least another season in Serie B. After Pisa’s draw on Friday, Gorini’s men could climb into the play-off zone with a victory and either Brescia or Sampdoria dropping points.
“[Feralpisalo] have a positive way of playing as they have been good since the new year,” Gorini said. “Like I said, it’s not going to be an easy match and we have to give them great respect.”
PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti