Cittadella vs Frosinone: Granata set for important Friday night clash

MATCH: Cittadella vs Frosinone – Serie BKT Matchday 7

DATE: Sept. 27, 2024 – 20:30 local (2:30 p.m. EST)

VENUE: Stadio Piercesare Tombolato – Cittadella

Cittadella returns to the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato on Friday night as the Granata face Frosinone in an important match for both sides.

Both clubs sit in the bottom half of Serie B entering the seventh match of the season. Frosinone is still yet to record a win after six games, losing its last two by a combined score of 7-0. Another loss for Cittadella could bring the Granata into the relegation zone as the October international break looms.

Cittadella head coach Edoardo Gorini is feeling prepared for Friday night’s game, saying his team has analyzed the mistakes made in last weekend’s defeat against Mantova.

“The guys are very sorry for last weekend’s defeat,” Gorini said in his pre-match press conference. “We analyzed our errors and it must serve as a lesson. We have to learn from these moments because these things shape you.”

Following the ruling of the Court of Appeals on Wednesday, Cittadella was forced to forfeit an original 1-1 draw against Pisa in August to a 3-0 defeat. The ruling overturned the initial decision made by the sporting judge in early September, which did not penalize the Granata with an automatic defeat. Wednesday’s ruling now puts Cittadella in 15th place on 7 points – only one point above the relegation play-out zone.

Four points below Gorini’s men is Frosinone, who has started the season 0-3-3. Vincenzo Vivarini’s side is looking for a response after back-to-back defeats against Brescia and Bari.

“Frosinone is struggling but they are still a strong team,” Gorini said. “They have a squad build to go to Serie A. They are coming here with a knife in their mouths because they are in a difficult moment.”

Friday’s game will be the 24th all-time meeting between Cittadella and Frosinone. The Granata have lost once to Frosinone in their last eight Serie B regular season meetings. The Lazio-based club won the last game between the two sides 3-0 in February 2023.

Cittadella’s attacking struggles can be seen in its expected goals (xG) tally. Gorini’s side has failed to create an xG tally higher than 1.0 in five of six games this season. The Granata have scored four goals entering Friday, which is the lowest in Serie B along with Frosinone.

Gorini expects Cittadella to be aiming for three crucial points on Friday and to put aside the anger of the last match.

“We always aim to win,” Gorini said. “We have to transform the anger from last weekend onto the field and try to win the game.”

PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti