Cittadella vs Spezia | Match Preview
On December 22, 2023 by Jake IovineMatch: Cittadella vs Spezia – Serie BKT Matchday 18
Date: December 23, 2023 – 14:00 local (8:00am EST)
Venue: Stadio Piercesare Tombolato – Cittadella
Cittadella play its last home match of the 2023 calendar year on Saturday afternoon as the Granata host Spezia.
The winning streak ended last weekend in Modena, but Edoardo Gorini’s side still managed to earn a point on the road. Cittadella is enjoying a six game unbeaten run going into the weekend, which has put Gorini’s side in 6th place.
The Granata have earned 17 points from a possible 27 at the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato, already having as many wins at home this season compared to the last. Cittadella will have a tough task on Saturday facing Spezia – a team that the club has not beaten in the last six Serie B regular season matches. This will be the first meeting between the two sides in over three years.
Despite having high expectations in the summer, Spezia has struggled this season. L’Aquile currently sits 17th in Serie B with 16 points, having only three wins in 17 games. However, two consecutive wins from Luca D’Angelo’s side has given Spezia new life as the ‘andata’ rounds of Serie B wrap-up.
Spezia will be without Szymon Zurkowski and Salvatore Esposito, both of whom are suspended for the match. Edoardo Gorini confirmed in his pre-match conference that Enrico Baldini and Francesco Amatucci will sit out with injuries, while Alessandro Salvi is serving a one game suspension following yellow card accumulation.
Former Cittadella midfielder Mirko Antonucci is set to make his return to the Tombolato for the first time since leaving the Granata in the summer. Antonucci scored 14 goals and tallied eight assists in two seasons in Veneto before joining L’Aquile for a reported Є2 million last summer.
Both squads will have quick turnarounds after the match, as Cittadella travels to Ascoli while Spezia hosts Modena at home on Boxing Day.
PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti