Bari vs Cittadella: Granata without key players in Puglia
On November 23, 2024 by Jake IovineMATCH: Bari vs Cittadella – Serie BKT Matchday 14
DATE: Nov. 24, 2024 – 15:00 CET (9:00 a.m. EST)
VENUE: Stadio San Nicola – Bari
Cittadella will be without a number of key players as the Granata travel to Bari for Matchday 14 at the Stadio San Nicola.
Head coach Alessandro Dal Canto confirmed in his prematch press conference that his team will be without several players for Sunday’s clash.
“We won’t have Pavan due to a small knee problem from these last few days of training,” Dal Canto said on Saturday morning. “In addition to him, Vita and Magrassi are still out, plus Tessiore had a blow to the hip. Salvi is disqualified.”
Alessio Vita has started all but two Serie B games for Cittadella this season. The veteran midfielder will be sidelined for another game on Sunday afternoon. Alessandro Salvi picked up a red card in Cittadella’s last match, while Nicola Pavan suffered a knee injury in training.
Cittadella has struggled against Bari in recent years. The Granata have not beaten the Puglian side since 2017. The club will be looking for its first win at the Stadio San Nicola in eight years, and only the second win in Bari in club history.
Sunday will be the first game in two weeks for both sides since the November international break. Bari got its first win in six games by defeating Salernitana, while Cittadella were defeated at home against Cesena before the break. The Galletti have gone 11 games without defeat, winning three times and tallying eight draws.
“The break was useful for carrying out targeted work to extract some temperamental characteristics,” Dal Canto said. “Football always provides second chances, now we have to get back into the right position in the standings. The team must overcome this difficult moment through results.”
Cittadella enters Sunday’s game with the fewest goals scored out of any team in Serie B. Dal Canto’s side has scored six goals this season (including forfeited 0-3 loss against Pisa) and sits 19th in the league with 12 points.
A win in Bari could see Cittadella leap outside the relegation zone, pending on other results around the league.
“It will be a difficult match against a strong team,” Dal Canto said. “They are coming off a good period and will immediately bring a very high intensity to the game. In Serie B, there are no teams that are not strong.”
PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti / A.S. Cittadella