Vicenza vs Cittadella | All you need to know.
On January 22, 2022 by Jake IovineThe first match of 2022 sees a great opportunity for Cittadella to start on the right foot. But Vicenza will show no letting down in this Veneto derby.
After many days of waiting, and dwelling the time since Cittadella last took the pitch, we are finally set to kickoff 2022.
Cittadella couldn’t have asked for a better start to the new year. Their first three matches are teams from the bottom four of Serie B, starting with Vicenza tomorrow at the Stadio Romeo Menti. Despite playing against weaker opposition on paper, these next games are critical for the Granata and pose no easy task for the next few weeks.
The first step of the new year starts tomorrow against LR Vicenza. Here’s an insight of the two teams competing tomorrow afternoon.
Cittadella
It’s felt like ages since we saw Cittadella earn a hard fought point in Brescia before Christmas. The Covid outbreak in the league has put a pause on the Granata‘s season, almost acting like its own winter break.
On a positive note, the pause has given enough time for Mamadou Tounkara, Orji Okwonkwo, and Vincenzo Ciriello to recover from injuries the weeks prior. All 27 players are available at Edoardo Gorini’s disposal, something we’ve rarely seen all season.
One thing Cittadella has struggled with last year–and in years past–is getting points against lower ranked opposition. Last season, despite finishing 6th and being one goal away from Serie A, the Granata lost a total of 16 points to teams that finished in the bottom four of the table. Every point counts, and if Cittadella want to keep proving themselves as legit promotion contenders, these are games that they should be winning.
It won’t be easy tomorrow, though. On an eight game league unbeaten run, it’ll be 35 days since Cittadella played a competitive. The time frame is even longer for Vicenza. There’s no doubt fitness will be an important factor in tomorrow’s clash.
Vicenza
Struggling for survival this year, a disappointing season from the Lanerossi can be restarted with a win over their Veneto rivals.
It’s been a shocking display for the first part of the campaign for Vicenza. Only 7 points can be pulled together in their 17 matches played. But the new year can provide a chance to flip the page and start their climb out of the bottom four.
An eyeopening transfer window last summer saw high profile players join the club, including Federico Proia, Davide Diaw, Riccardo Brosco, and Anthony Taugourdeau. Their promotion dream seemed attainable in August, but it went plummeting in the opposite direction. Their poor start costed Domenico Di Carlo his job, and incoming manager Christian Brocchi still hasn’t put Vicenza in full swing.
Everything that has happened so far has happened in 2021. Now with 2022 starting, Vicenza sees this match against Cittadella as an opportunity to start a new chapter. We saw it with Ascoli last season and their incredible march up from last place. It’s not a question if Vicenza can do the same, but it must start soon.