Cittadella’s new year struggles continue in Benevento defeat

After a long stretch of games without defeat, Cittadella now struggle to taste victory in 2022. Their struggles continue as Benevento edge the Granata for the second time this season.

In the mist of a tough stretch of matches, Benevento was next on the list in a packed February schedule. Following a long-awaited victory in Pordenone during the week, Cittadella fans hoped to see the first home win since December 11th.

But once again, the Granata were shutout at home thanks to the lone goal from Benevento midfielder Riccardo Improta. Newly signed defender Dario Del Fabro made a mess of a long ball, which allowed the visitors to grab the go-ahead goal 69 minutes into the match.

Quite noticeably, there has been a problem arising in Cittadella’s attack. Only two goals scored in the last five matches, a cause for concern is mounting pressure on the offense, but also for head coach Edoardo Gorini.

“In our best moment, they scored.” Gorini said in his post game interview to padovaoggi. “We’re sorry because in the second half we created several chances and we would’ve deserved at least a draw. Unfortunately it went like this.”

Gorini put out a lineup witch consisted of four changes from the win midweek. Full backs Amedeo Benedetti and Alessandro Mattioli returned to the starting formation. Davide Mazzocco and Karim Laribi also switched places for youngster Valerio Mastrantonio and Alessio Vita.

But once again for the second straight match, player maker Mirko Antonucci started on the sidelines and did not come in until the start of the second half. Another key midfielder missing was Simone Branca, who was ruled out of the match with an injury.

With the absence of these midfielders, Benevento bossed the middle of the pitch, as Cittadella struggled in the center of the park for majority of the match.

Benevento wasted no time on asserting their dominance in the first half. Goalkeeper Elhan Kastrati was kept busy in the first 45 minutes, but despite all this, Cittadella’s defense held together. Like said earlier, the midfield was outplayed in every aspect. Laribi and Mazzocco failed to provide attacking firepower. Baldini never looked on his game, which has an effect on forwards Giacomo Beretta and Orji Okwonkwo.

But most noticeably, it was a lot of the same from the Granata in the match: give it to the outsides, and send it long for Okwonkwo to hold up. That game plan was failing miserably during the course of the match. Benevento’s defense were rarely tested by Okwonkwo’s speed and hold up play. Many times the ball would go out of play, but at the end of the day it was just bad to watch.

The match was begging for substitutions to be made, and at the start of the half, Gorini threw on Vita and Antonucci. Immediately, Cittadella grew with chances on former keeper Alberto Paleari. A completely re-energized Cittadella pushed for the breakthrough.

Vita’s presence in the midfield allowed him to go forward and create shots. Antonucci also got himself in dangerous areas, and nearly found the net in the 67th minute. His shot sailed to high and wide of the goal, but finally the game was turning the favor of the Granata.

Just moments after Antonucci’s chance, a ball over the top was misjudged by Del Fabro, and put Benevento off to the races. Riccardo Importa made no mistake with his opportunity, smashing the ball in the roof of the net past Kastrati. The Tombolato was deflated, as Cittadella were staring at yet another home loss to top 8 opposition.

Pushing for an equalizer, Mastrantonio missed a similar opportunity like Antonucci’s in the 80th minute. Again, after ten minutes, he found himself through on goal, but sailed his shot over the bar. The last play of the match saw a scramble in the penalty box, with the ball landing to Mamadou Tounkara on the side of the 18 yard box. Immediately, he sent a hard cross through traffic, but no connection was made by a Cittadella attacker.

Two back to back home defeats have made lots of Granata fans frustrated. Lots of that frustration have been at Gorini, who’s lineup decisions have been questionable.

“At half-time I stressed that we hadn’t done what we had prepared for this week.” Gorini continued post match. “Then the substitutes gave something more in terms of aggressiveness and freshness. When playing every three days, the changes are important.”

The loss sees Cittadella fall three points behind 8th place Frosinone, the last playoff spot. With Lecce in sights on Wednesday, Cittadella’s 2022 has not gotten off to the start we all hoped off. Only one win so far, the Granata are in a low position we haven’t seen since being promoted to Serie B in 2016.

The main concern, though, is how the team has been preforming lately. The way Cittadella got attention in these recent years was by their playing style despite being on a low budget. The possession and attacking creativity has dipped in recent performances. Now it seems like all we are doing to sending it long to Okwonkwo or Beretta, hoping for them to settle and play with supporting midfielders.

The lack of scoring tells the story. Only two goals scored in five games, it’s not good enough. It’s certainly not what we want if we are aiming for Serie A promotion. The attack must improve and get back to scoring ways like they were doing so well in the beginning of the season.

Wednesday is the big test as Cittadella travel to league leaders Lecce for Matchday 25.