Cittadella vs Bari | Match Preview
On May 4, 2024 by Jake IovineMatch: Cittadella vs Bari – Serie BKT Matchday 37
Date: May 5, 2024 – 15:00 local (9:00am EST)
Venue: Stadio Piercesare Tombolato – Cittadella
Cittadella play their final home match of the 2023/24 regular season as the Granata host Bari in a crucial match for both sides.
A late goal in Como saw Cittadella drop to 13th place in Serie B, three points behind the playoff line with two games remaining. Edoardo Gorini’s side still have a chance of qualifying for the promotion playoffs for the first time in three seasons, but will likely need to win on Sunday.
Bari have not won a game since Feb. 17, and have slipped inside the relegation zone following consecutive poor results. The Biancorossi have had four different coaches this season, and are now managed by Federico Giampaolo for the remaining two fixtures.
Gorini is looking to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since becoming head coach. Despite the loss against Como, the Cittadella boss wants to see a similar performance from his players on Sunday.
“It’s not easy [to keep the same attitude throughout the games], but it’s an obvious thing that we struggled with even in the first half of the season where we didn’t keep the same attitude for 90 minutes,” Gorini said in his pre-match press conference. “Tomorrow we need to keep the same attitude that we had in Como and not in the games with Ascoli or Feralpisalo.”
Both sides met early in the season where Nicola Pavan’s 89th minute header stole a point for Cittadella at the Stadio San Nicola. The Granata were last successful against Bari in 2018, where they prevailed in a tense 2-2 first round playoff match. Sunday will be the 21st all-time meeting between the two clubs.
Cittadella will have fullback Alessandro Salvi back from injury on Sunday, Gorini confirmed. Andrea Danzi is also expected to be back in the squad list. Bari will be without midfielder Nicola Bellomo, who is still serving a two-match suspension. Ex-Cittadella striker Davide Diaw will also miss the trip, but Giampaolo will have Raffaele Maiello and George Puscas back in the squad list for the match.
Bari cannot be officially relegated this weekend, however they can be on the verge depending on other results in the league. Cittadella can be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss and a Brescia draw or win against Lecco. Gorini’s side can also be out of the playoff race with other scenarios and even with a victory at the Tombolato.
PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti