Preview: Cittadella hosts Ravenna in Leg 1 of National Phase

Almost one year ago, the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato hosted a decisive game for Cittadella in its quest to stay in Serie B – a game the Granata ultimately lost and relegated the club to the third tier.

Fast forward to today and the stadium hosts another season-defining game, but this time in a bid to return to the second division.

Cittadella hosts Ravenna on Sunday night in the first leg of the National Phase Round One of the Serie C playoffs, the second of six rounds of the promotion tournament.

Manuel Iori’s side advanced through two rounds last week, eliminating Arzignano and Lumezzane in one-off games at home. Simone Rabbi is the sole goalscorer for Cittadella after two postseason games, netting three goals to help the Granata advance.

Next up for Cittadella is Girone B side Ravenna, which looks to continue its promotion dream as a newly promoted club.

“We’re facing a team that was built to win,” Iori said in his pregame press conference. “(They) don’t have any characteristics of a newly promoted team as it’s a club which has invested a lot and put together a team to win the championship. It will be a great match to live over two legs.”

The two sides met in August during the opening round of the Coppa Italia Serie C, where a brace from Matteo Motti helped Ravenna win 2-0 at the Stadio Bruno Benelli.

Five players who featured in the defeat for Cittadella are no longer on the roster – a sign of change and an expectation of a different game coming up.

“A Coppa Italia match can’t be evaluated the same as a playoff match,” Iori said. “These will be two completely different games from the one we experienced this summer.”

Ravenna enters Sunday’s first leg following five straight shutout wins to end the regular season. The Giallorossi have conceded just five goals in 11 games under Andrea Mandorlini, guiding the team to a third place finish in Girone B with a 22-7-7 record.

As the seeded team, Ravenna only needs a draw on aggregate over two games to advance. Cittadella will need to win outright for a chance to take a step closer to Serie B promotion.

“We have to look at what we have and not what we don’t have, what we are and not what we have been,” Iori said. “I’ve been repeating this phrase to the guys: ‘The playoffs are a different season.'”

MATCH: Cittadella vs. Ravenna – Serie C Sky Wifi, National Phase Round One Leg 1

DATE: May 10, 2026 – 20:45 CET (14:45 EST)

VENUE: Stadio Piecesare Tombolato – Cittadella

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TOP PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti / A.S. Cittadella