Cittadella vs Bari: Granata face Serie C relegation in do-or-die clash

Cittadella could officially be relegated to Serie C for the first time in 10 years as the Granata host Bari on Friday night.

One year ago, Cittadella faced the same opponents on the penultimate match of the 2023/24 season. Both teams needed a win, but for opposite reasons: for Cittadella, it meant staying alive in the promotion playoff race. For Bari, a loss would have likely condemned the Puglians to Serie C.

A little over 365 days later and the situations for both teams are reversed. As Bari push for the promotion playoffs, Cittadella knows a loss on Friday and a Brescia win or draw against Modena would officially relegate the Granata to the third tier with a game to spare.

A draw may also not be enough for Cittadella. If there’s a winner between Sampdoria and Salernitana, and Brescia takes three points, a tie at the Tombolato would relegate Citta.

“The team must have the right attitude: they can’t be scared,” Cittadella head coach Alessandro Dal Canto said in his prematch press conference. “It’s a heavy match from all points of view. It’s possible that emotions can take over, but this can’t happen because nothing will work out.”

Dal Canto’s men are currently enduring their longest winless streak of the season, having not won a game in their last eight outings. The run of form puts the club in 19th place and four points from saftey entering the do-or-die match on Friday.

Despite the team’s desperation and recent struggles, Dal Canto believes the best way for his side to deal with the adversity is calmness.

“The players must be calm when they go on the field,” he said. “They have to be calm on the emotional aspect, with energy and drive to impact the match. [Being anxious] makes banal mistakes that we can’t make in a match where whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins.”

Cittadella will play two home games against Bari and Salernitana to close the regular season. Six points in four days would likely guarantee the Granata a two-legged play-out in late May.

But home wins have been hard to come by this season for Cittadella. The team holds the worst home record in the division (2-6-9) and has picked up one point at the Tombolato since the start of the new year. Dal Canto’s crew will likely need to double their home win tally for a chance of survival.

“I have played many games like this as a player and a coach,” Dal Canto said. “I know how these games feel. You have to be with the right amount of tension.”

Bari enters Friday’s game just inside the playoff zone on 47 points. Despite defeating Pisa on Sunday, Moreno Longo’s men have recently lost games against Cosenza, Carrarese and Modena which put the Galletti‘s playoff spot at risk.

The visitors will be without their head coach for the match, in addition to midfielders Ahmad Benali and Mattia Maita. Starting goalkeeper Boris Radunovic will also miss the game due to yellow card accumulation.

A loss on Friday for either team could be fatal in each of their respective ambitions. But it may be even more consequential for Cittadella, whose 10 year stay in Serie B can officially come to an end before the weekend.

“We have to just win now, there’s no other options,” Dal Canto said. “I think it’s best to chatter less and try to do what could’ve been done before.”

MATCH: Cittadella vs Bari – Serie BKT Matchday 38

DATE: May 9, 2025 – 20:30 CET (14:30 EST)

VENUE: Stadio Piercesare Tombolato – Cittadella

TV (US only): Destination Calcio

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TOP PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti / A.S. Cittadella