It is often joked about in this column that Serie B is the greatest league in the world and that by extension nothing is more important than it. Events of the past weekend however clearly show this to be nowhere near the case.
Now this is not the platform, nor do I have the adequate words to convey the evilness of events that unfolded in Paris on Friday night. What little I will say is that those events have touched everyone and Serie B is no different. Before every match in the league this weekend (Also Lega Pro, Serie D and further down the leagues) La Marseillaise was belted out over the speaker system at each stadium, whilst a minute’s silence was also observed. A select number of clubs also paid tribute with specific messages printed on their jerseys.
Football may not be the most important thing in the world, but as Serie B has shown it can be a powerful symbol for solidarity and defiance.
The first match of the weekend took place on the Saturday afternoon at the Stadio Armando Picci and saw Livorno play host to Vicenza. Both sides headed into the encounter desperate for the three points and the potential bump in the standings it would give them.
In the end though the spoils would be shared as neither side possessed the necessary fortitude to finish off the other. It was the Amaranto who thought they had opened the scoring early in the second half only for the linesman’s flag to go up and curtail celebrations.
On 54 minutes however Livorno did indeed take the lead, an in swinging cross from the left hand side was met by the head of Riccardo Cazzola, who was allowed the free reign of the Vicenza box to steer the ball into the bottom right corner.
Again on Livorno’s part the celebrations were short lived as only two minutes later the Biancorossi were back on level terms. A Long throw-in over the top by Antonio Cinelli to the end line was swept across the six-yard box to be poked home by the big man Filip Raicevic.
Things then went from bad to worse for the hosts as five minutes past the hour mark Vicenza made it two. Salvatore D’Elia the man doing the damage as he powered in at the left hand post from just inside the box.
Livorno would salvage a point in the end and it came courtesy of the ever dependable Daniele Vantaggiato on 72 minutes. A corner from the left was not sufficiently cleared before being quickly headed back into the fray where the waiting Vantaggiato turned on the spot to slam home. Raicevic would then be given a red card for an elbow only a minute later, but it mattered little 2-2 it finished.
At the top of the table Cagliari are beginning to look the real deal as they now have extended their lead to four points after a comprehensive 3-0 away win against a Spezia side in free fall under manager Nenad Bjelica.
Federico Melchiorri was the man to open the scoring on 35 minutes. A poor touch by the Spezia defender let the ball fall favourably to the feet of the striker who from the left hand edge of the box unleashed a thunderbolt into the top left corner.
Melchiorri was up to his mischief again early into the second half as he picked up his second of the match. This time though it came via his head as he rose highest at the back post to nod home the corner from the left.
On 84 minutes Spezia would be reduced to ten men, Emanuele Calaio given his second yellow of the match this time for diving. For Cagliari the icing was put on the cake in the third minute of stoppage time as the unfortunate Nahuel Valentini put through his own net.
Crotone remain in second spot, but only just as they let a lead slip late on to struggling Virtus Lanciano. Federico Ricci gave the visitors the lead on 20 minutes heading home from only a matter of inches out after a corner from the left almost curled all the way in.
Both sides would go on to have some very good chances to extend their lead or get back on level terms. In the end it was Lanciano who got themselves back in the match four minutes from time. Antonio Piccolo’s effort from range was initially blocked but the rebound fell nicely for him and he made no mistake second time round drilling home into the bottom left corner with style. 1-1 it finished.
The most eagerly anticipated match of the weekend took place on Sunday night and it saw Cesena go up against Bari at the Stadio Manuzzi. In the end however it proved a small bit of a let-down because after an initial strong opening from the hosts it was Bari who would take control of the match and cease to relinquish it.
That old wise head of Alessandro Rosina was the first to showcase the intentions of the Galletti as he came within inches of opening the scoring for Bari twice in a few moments of one another. The goal did eventually come five minutes from the break.
Some slack defending by Cesena saw the ball passed straight to the feet of Rosina who then delivered a pinpoint cross onto the head of Guiseppe De Luca who glanced it into the far corner of the net.
Riccardo Mainero settled matters in the visitors favour on the hour mark, where despite being grabbed hold of like a UFC fighter being pinned to the ground he managed to get his head on a corner and guide it past Gomis in goal.
2-0 it finished Bari are up into third, the train looks to be building up steam.
Elsewhere around the league Ascoli scored their first goal in 447 minutes of football to beat Perugia 1-0. The goal coming from Daniele Cacia, a very nice finish to finally give some sweet relief to the Ascoli faithful.
Brescia beat Trapani 3-1 at the Stadio Rigamonti. Leonardo Morosini with the second of the three goals. A fine solo effort which he finished off by celebrating with the French flag. Como’s plight at the bottom looks more and more desperate every week as they lost yet again this 0-2 at home to Pescara, Gianluca Lapadula with both goals.
Avellino had a fine 3-1 win at home to Latina, A Benjamin Mokulu double alongside a Marcello Trotta effort doing the damage for the Lupi. Virtus Entella continue to surprise, they are now up to tenth after a 2-1 away win against Ternana. The goals in the first half from Francesco Caputo and Gaetano Masucci.
The final two matches to cover both finished in 1-0 score lines as Salernitana overcame Novara thanks to an Alfredo Donnarumma effort. While Modena picked up a crucial three points at home to Pro Vercelli with a late Lino Marzorati strike.
View Week 13 Highlights HERE.
View Current Table HERE.
Week 13 Results:
Sat: Livorno 2-2 Vicenza, Modena 1-1 Pro Vercelli, Sun: Spezia 0-3 Cagliari, Ascoli 1-0 Perugia, Avellino 3-1 Latina, Brescia 3-0 Trapani, Como 0-2 Pescara, Salernitana 1-0 Novara, Ternana 1-2 Virtus Entella, Virtus Lanciano 1-1 Crotone, Cesena 0-2 Bari.
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