For some this time of year brings only despair as the warmth of summer gradually gives away to the cool crispness of autumn. For others though this transitioning of the season brings nothing but joy. Joy for one reason in particular – Serie B is back and it’s nuttier than ever.
If that is to be the tagline for the season than there is only one place we can start this round-up and that is down the heel of Italy, where Bari hosted Spezia at the Stadio San Nicola. It is a big year for both clubs who will have aspirations of achieving promotion come seasons end. If that is to be achieved however the standard of the defending will have to be raised considerably.
In front of a bumper crowd of over 21,000 it was the Galletti who raced from the blocks quickest, taking the lead on 19 minutes. A cross from the right was met by the head of the completely unmarked Giuseppe De Luca who rose from about eight yards out to nod into the bottom left corner.
De Luca was at it again four minutes later, this time though the cross came from the left. De Luca peeled away from his man at the back post before heading the ball back the way it came and into the now rippling net. Considering De Luca was probably the smallest man on the pitch Spezia will be livid to have twice conceded that way.
The conceding of the second finally sparked the Aquilotti to life as on 33 minutes they pulled one back. Some neat inter-play on the wing saw the ball eventually centred to the feet of Miguel De Las Cuevas. Las Cuevas first touch was not great however and it looked as if the chance was gone, but with the pressure slow in coming he dug it out of his feet and smashed home.
Bari’s nerves began to jangle and soon gave way altogether as four minutes before half-time Spezia drew level form the spot after a clumsy tackle by Valerio De Cesare which resulted in him getting his marching orders. Andrea Catellani then stood up to the penalty before coolly producing a Panenka right down the middle to draw the side’s level at the break.
That wasn’t the end of the fun though as only six minutes into the second half Spezia were in front. A corner from the right was met by Nene who guided it home. Bari then showed great resolve to claw back where others would have given up. On 57 minutes a corner from the left was flicked on at the near post and Riccardo Mainero was quickest to react to slip home at the back stick.
The coup de grace for Bari though came with only 12 minutes left on the clock. A swift attacking movement was ended when De Luca laid the ball across the box where Mainero supplied the finishing touches to seal a fantastic win for a now rocking San Nicola.
In another of the weekends big matches Livorno were at home to Pescara. It was an eagerly anticipated encounter between two of the leagues supposed big hitters. In the end though it proved all one way traffic as the Amaranto ran out convincing four-nil winners at the Armando Picci thanks in no small part to the dismissal of Delfini keeper Vincenzo Firollo after only four minutes. From there on in it was all Livorno who had Daniele Vantaggiato (two goals, one from the spot), Federico Ceccherini and Francesco Fedato to thank for supplying the finishing touches.
A fantastic win for Christian Panucci’s men while some soul searching is needed for Massimo Oddo and his players. In one of the mostly hotly anticipated matches of the weekend Salernitana took on Avellino in the Derby Del Campania. Happily for the home fans it was the Granata who came out on top.
Denilson Gabionetta opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a tremendous volley from the edge of the area that ricochet in off the right hand post. The lead was short lived however as three minutes later Marcello Trotta drew the Lupi level, reacting first after the keeper was unable to hold an initial effort.
On 56 minutes Gabionetta got his and the Granta’s second, taking the ball over the top on his chest he cut inside away from his man before curling the ball sweetly into the far corner. Then five minutes into stoppage time at the end Gennaro Troianiello put the cherry on the cake making it three-one and cuing pandemonium in the stands.
On Saturday night Cesena and Brescia kicked off the season at the Manuzzi. In what was overall an even tie it was the Seahorses blistering start that got them the win, scoring twice inside the first six minutes. The first coming courtesy of an own goal off the foot of Luca Castellini, while the second came from the feet of Antonio Ragusa who pounced on a poor parry by the Brescia keeper to slot home.
Both sides had chances to draw back or increase the deficit in the remaining 82 minutes, but a mixture of poor composure and defensive pressure kept the score to two-nil to Cesena.
Another of the so called promotion contenders Perugia got off to a relatively comfortable start at the Renato Curi as the Grifone dispatched Como two-nil. The goals coming in either half from Lorenzo Del Prete and Matteo Ardemangi ,the latter of which being a neat lob over Como keeper Simone Scuffet who performed well throughout although he may be considered culpable for Perugia’s first goal.
Novara looked to be on for three points on their return to Serie B but were pegged back right at the death by a Riccardo Brosco strike after Andrej Galabinov had given the host the lead in the first half. Incidentally both sides also finish with ten on the pitch.
In the other matches played so far in week one Trapani had a fantastic three-nil win at home to a poor looking Ternana side. Hernan Crespo’s first league match in management ended in defeat as Vicenza grabbed the win thanks to a solitary goal 26 minutes from time. While pro Vercelli’s battle to avoid the drop started on the front foot thanks to a two-one one at the Stadio Piola against Virtus Lanciano.
In the remaining week one fixtures Crotone make the visit to Cagliari tonight (Monday) while Ascoli play Virtus Entella on Wednesday.
The rollarcoster ride of Serie B is back, oh how we’ve missed you.
View week one’s highlights HERE.
View week one’s table HERE.
Serie B week one Results:
Cesena 2-0 Brescia, Livorno 4-0 Pescara, Modena 0-1 Vicenza, Novara 1-1 Latina, Perugia 2-0 Como, Pro Vercelli 2-1 Virtus Lanciano, Salernitana 3-1 Avellino, Trapani 3-0 Ternana, Bari 4-3 Spezia, Cagliari v Crotone (Monday) and Ascoli v Virtus Entella (Wednesday)
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