Spezia vs Cittadella: Mission improbable for the Granata?
On December 7, 2024 by Jake IovineMATCH: Spezia vs Cittadella – Serie BKT Matchday 16
DATE: Dec. 8, 2024 – 15:00 CET (9:00am EST)
VENUE: Stadio Alberto Picco – La Spezia
One year ago, Cittadella and Spezia faced each other on Matchday 18 of the 2023/24 Serie B season. Four goals at the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato lifted the Granata to their sixth win in seven games, putting Edoardo Gorini’s men in fifth place. The loss for Spezia, however, put them in 18th on 16 points, staring at back-to-back relegations.
Today, both teams couldn’t be more different.
Spezia has claimed the second most points in league action in 2024, collecting 57 points as the Aquile sit in third this season. For Cittadella, it’s been a nightmare year as Alessandro Dal Canto’s men sit bottom of Serie B with a 3-4-8 record.
Both sides will meet again on Sunday afternoon at the Stadio Alberto Picco as the Granata look to pull themselves out of the relegation zone with a result.
It will be a difficult task in La Spezia as Luca D’Angelo’s side has not lost at home in 13 straight games. The Ligurian team is undefeated at the Picco since Feb. 28, boasting a 10-3-0 record since then.
“It’s a match where duels will have a value,” Dal Canto said in his prematch press conference on Saturday. “Defensively, we need something more from the attacking players because Spezia is skilled in this type of play. We have to win second balls and withstand the impact when they have the ball because they play with these characteristics.”
“It could be a game that’s played on second balls,” he added. “When we don’t have the ball, we need to be aggressive, like always.”
Spezia tasted defeat for the first time this season last Sunday, falling against Palermo 2-0. D’Angelo’s side enters the weekend with the best defensive record in the league, conceding 10 goals after 15 games and holding an 8-6-1 record. Three points on Sunday for the Aquile will put them one point behind second place Pisa.
“[Spezia] is healthy, and is a team that believes in what they do,” Dal Canto said. “They have great enthusiasm, but we shouldn’t be scared.”
Dal Canto will be without numerous key players for the trip to Liguria. The boss confirmed that midfielders Andrea Tessiore and Jacopo Desogus will miss the game, in addition to center backs Matteo Angeli and Nicola Pavan.
Sunday will be the 25th all-time meeting between Spezia and Cittadella. The Granata will be looking to hand the Aquile their first home loss in 10 months while also getting their first win at the Picco since 2019.
“We must make few mistakes in the things that we can determine,” Dal Canto said. “In the long run, work will give us what we deserve. In life, luck has a basic component, but in some aspects we can determine it ourselves.”
PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti