Brescia vs Cittadella | Match Preview
On February 2, 2024 by Jake IovineMatch: Brescia vs Cittadella – Serie BKT Matchday 23
Date: February 3, 2024 – 14:00 local (8:00am EST)
Venue: Stadio Mario Rigamonti – Brescia
Cittadella travels to Lombardy to face Brescia at the Stadio Mario Rigamonti on Saturday, looking to end a two game losing streak.
The Granata have lost two games on the bounce for the first time since October. Edoardo Gorini and his men will be looking to get back on track against Brescia, a team which Cittadella has not lost to in seven years.
Despite being 12 games undefeated against Brescia, Gorini wants a better concentration and performance than last weekend’s defeat to Sampdoria.
“[Sampdoria] was a game that we were playing well: going up a goal and almost scoring the second,” Gorini said in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “We have to have better concentration against Brescia.”
Brescia has only lost twice in the 10 games Rolando Maran has been in charge of. The recent form has put La Leonessa in striking distance of a play-off spot.
“It’s a ‘hot’ match, it’s like a playoff,” Gorini said to the press. “It’s a big opportunity for them to go into the playoff zone.”
“I expect a difficult game. Brescia is historically a difficult place to play, so we need to exploit a little bit of everything from this taboo.”
Cittadella has not lost to Brescia since Feb. 2017. Since then, the Granata have won five times and drawn seven against the Lombardy club.
Entering the weekend, Cittadella has a chance to put themselves 10 points clear of Brescia with a victory on Saturday. Currently in 6th place, Gorini’s side looks to avoid a third straight defeat going into next weekend’s clash with league leading Parma.
Brescia sits in 9th while only two points from the playoff line. La Leonessa have the third best defense in Serie B, conceding 23 goals after 22 games.
The hosts for Saturday’s match will be missing goalkeeper Luca Lezzerini, who is still injured. Maran will also be missing defenders Andrea Cistana and Zylyf Muca, both of who are sidelined with injuries.
Gorini confirmed that Federico Giraudo did not suffer a serious injury last weekend, but will still be unavailable for the match at the Rigamonti. Defender Domenico Frare will also be absent for the trip, having some minor problems with his adductor muscle.
PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti