How Cittadella can be eliminated from the Serie B playoffs on Sunday

Cittadella and their promotion playoffs hopes can be over as early as Sunday against Bari as the Granata face elimination.

Edoardo Gorini‘s side has gone 16 games with only a single victory, dropping Cittadella from 4th to 13th entering Matchday 37. Cittadella sit three points adrift from 8th place Brescia and four points from 7th Sampdoria entering Sunday’s home clash with Bari.

The Granata can be eliminated from playoff contention against Bari with various scenarios. All games will kickoff at 3pm local time on Sunday.

A loss for Cittadella will likely eliminate them from entering the playoffs. As Gorini’s side don’t hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with Brescia, they can only hope for La Leonessa to lose or draw at home against already-relegated Lecco.

A Brescia and Sampdoria victory against Reggiana will be enough for Cittadella to be eliminated if they manage to draw against Bari.

Even a victory at the Tombolato might not be enough for Gorini’s men. Three points for Brescia and Sampdoria each as well as Pisa defeating Sudtirol will see Cittadella miss out on the playoffs for the third straight season.

The Granata will be hoping Sudtirol can defeat Pisa at the Stadio Romeo Anconetani as there’s a complicated scenario that sees Cittadella getting 8th place. If Cittadella, Sudtirol and Brescia find themselves level on points, the three-way tiebreaker will go in favor of the Venetian side.

Cittadella has not qualified for the promotion playoffs since the 2020/21 under Roberto Venturato, where they missed out on Serie A promotion in the final against Venezia. Gorini has yet to qualify for the playoffs since being appointed as head coach in July 2021. Gorini will also be looking to achieve his highest final standing as Cittadella coach, with his highest being finishing 11th in 2021/22.

PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti