Ravenna vs Cittadella: Iori begins new era in the cup
On August 16, 2025 by Jake IovineManuel Iori begins his Cittadella coaching tenure on Sunday as the Granata visit Ravenna in the first round of the Coppa Italia Serie C.
Four years since retiring from professional football, Iori returns to the club where he’s made 339 appearances as a player. His first test as head coach will be newly promoted Ravenna, who is competing in the third division for the first time since the 2020/2021 season.
“I’m very focused for the match,” Iori said in his prematch press conference. “It will be a good test for us. I expect the guys to go out and try to do what we’ve been working on in these last weeks, with strength and courage.”
Cittadella wrapped up preseason with two wins at the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato against Serie D sides Bassano and Mestre. Iori’s side also collected wins against United Lovadina and Real Vicenza in Lavarone while playing to a draw with Spezia.
Sunday will be the Granata‘s first official match since being relegated from Serie B on May 13. The match will also be the club’s first time participating in the Coppa Italia Serie C since reaching the final in 2016, which ended in a loss to Foggia.
Amidst the enthusiasm of the start of the season, Iori knows it might be too early to exactly know what to expect from his team this campaign.
“It’s complicated to have everything perfect at this point of the season,” he said. “There are tactical situations, both as individuals and as a team, that we can make huge improvements on.
We have to be good at our approach to the game and staying focused, knowing we will have a warm atmosphere at the start of the season.”
Ravenna finished second in Serie D last season, but were promoted through the “ripescaggio” system after winning the promotion playoffs in Girone D. The Giallorossi also won the Coppa Italia Serie D in March, with head coach Marco Marchionni entering his second season at the helm.
Lots of unknown questions are looming for both sides. Not only that it’s the first official match for two teams entering a new league, but Iori points out external factors like the weather which could be an element. In Ravenna, the high temperature is expected to reach 89 degrees Fahrenheit with 59% humidity on Sunday.
“The heat made us lose some energy, not just mentally but physically too,” Iori said. “We have to start experiencing it and be happy with suffering. On one side, I’m happy but on the other we have to manage the loads.”
The cup tie will be the first meeting between the two sides since April 2006. In the eight clashes between Cittadella and Ravenna, the Granata have won four and have never lost to the club from Emilia-Romagna.
The winner will advance to the second round which will be played in late October. In an event of a tie after 90 minutes, no extra time will be played and the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.
MATCH: Ravenna vs Cittadella – Coppa Italia Serie C, Round 1
DATE/TIME: August 17, 2025 – 18:00 CET (12:00 EST)
VENUE: Stadio Bruno Benelli – Ravenna
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TOP PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti / A.S. Cittadella