Lecce Takes The Lead
MD34: Monza surges, Cremonese stumbles and that Baldini screamer
Lecce and Benevento make it three wins in a row, PlayOff spots are still up for grabs, and only one of the bottom five clubs accumulates points on Matchday 34.
How about that Enrico Baldini cracker from twenty-five yards.
They’ll be dancing La Pizzica
Lecce has only lost once in its past seventeen contests and is taking no prisoners, particularly at home, as the Salentini axed Cremonese from the Serie B apex, outclassing Spal 1–0 at the Via Del Mare on Saturday.
Marco Baroni’s men have only lost once at home this season, largely thanks to the contributions of the division’s top scorers, Massimo Coda and Gabriel Streffezza. The Giallorossi duo have united to bag 33 of Lecce’s 55 goals so far in 2021/22.
On this occasion, Coda turned provider for little-known Icelandic midfielder, Thórir Jóhann Helgason, who slotted an unforgettable debut goal underneath Enrico Alfonso to seal the result in the 66th-minute.
The result auspiciously propels Lecce into first place with four rounds to go.
Bouncing straight back up to first-tier football?
Benevento overcame ten-man Vicenza 1–0 to notch up a third consecutive victory —the seventh of the past ten — as Fabio Caserta aims to penetrate the top four.
The big talking point was the double caution of Riccardo Meggiorini in first-half stoppages which allowed La Strega to cruise to victory at the Ciro Vigorito courtesy of a calmly-placed hit from Mattia Viviani, assisted by the omnipresent Gennaro Acampora.
The defeat means that the Lanerossi remains in the relegation zone, three points below Cosenza, who won their match in hand with Benevento on Thursday, and four points adrift of Alessandria, who they’ll travel to meet in the final round of the season.
Frosinone’s victory reshapes the Top 8
Grigiorossi midfielder, Christian Bonaiuto, slotted his seventh for the campaign from a tight angle before Luigi Canotto equalised from the spot and Alessio Zerbin pounced on a loose ball to put the Canarini ahead at the break.
With Luca Strizzolo harshly shown a second yellow card, Frosinone took control of their own destiny and turned their poor midweek form around — losing to last-placed Pordenone — to take down the League leaders 2–1 at the Benito Stirpe.
Monza is cooking up something special
It was groundhog day for Monza who won 2–0 for the second successive match, this time away at Cosenza, as Mattia Valoti and Christian Gytkjær got their second goals in as many games.
With six wins in their last seven, scoring fourteen and conceding just three in that time, the Bagai deservedly climb into second position as they chase Serie A football for the first time in their history.
Cosenza will find it tough going to break their seven-game winless streak in the upcoming rounds against Benevento (5th) and Cremonese (3rd).
It’s lights out for Parma
Just for a moment, inspired by Franco Vazquez and Adrían Bernabé, it seemed as though the Ducali could win all of their remaining games and qualify for the PlayOffs.
Then the trip away to Brescia came on a cold Monday night at the Rigamonti. Parma cautiously worked their way into the contest, but La Leonessa deservedly took the points, winning 1-0 thanks to the right boot of Stefano Moreo.
Both goalkeepers starred in this one, but there was nothing that 18-year-old Slovenian Martin Turk could do to deny the ex-Palermo striker’s shot from nine yards who has delivered his career-best season of 9 goals.
Enrico Baldini smashed the Goal of the Round
Cittadella returned to winning ways for the first time in eight matches. Having accrued four league points since February, the Granata hadn’t scored in open play for 642 minutes until Enrico Baldini’s opener.
Amato Ciciretti equalised — his second goal of the campaign — just sixty seconds later with a spectacular, curling effort that looped over the outstretched arm of Albanian goalie, Elhan Kastrati.
Not to be outdone, Baldini responded with a swerving drive from twenty-five yards to win it 2–1, sending Citta four points above Como, shooting down the Lariani’s playoffs dreams in front of their own fans at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
An Inter youth product, Baldini is having his career-best season with ten goals for the term, five more than his debut season with Cittadella in 2020/21.
Pisa limped out of the Top 4 after relinquishing a half-time lead to draw 1–1 at Perugia. The Nerazzurri — now winless in three — slip into fifth place but it could be worse if Brescia beats Parma on Monday.
This is the fourth draw in five matches for the Grifoni. Aleandro Rosi’s strike canceled out George Puscas’ opener, the Romania international now has five goals since joining on loan from Reading in January.
While a solitary point is adequate in upholding 9th position, Massimiliano Alvini must win at least three of his remaining matches to realistically have any chance of PlayOff calcio in May.
Reggina pecked by i Picchi
Ascoli’s erratic form sees them return to winning ways with two second-half rippers from Fabrizio Caligara and Soufiane Bidaoui at the Stadio Cino E Lillo Del Duca.
The result sealed the PlayOff fate of both clubs for 2021/22 as Andrea Sottil’s men staved off the Calabrian challenge to maintain seventh spot (55 points), the Amaranto squandering the chance to pull within five points of the Top 8.
That magnificent Milanese solo-goal
Alessandria has overcome its fourteen-match winless streak with a 2–0 victory at the Giuseppe Moccagatta against the hapless Pordenone, ending the Ramarri’s ever-fading hopes of remaining in the second tier.
Fielding an all-Italian starting eleven, Michele Marconi and Tommaso Milanese netted either side of the break to guarantee L’Orso three valuable points. Moreno Longo’s side pulls to within five points of Spal who sits in 15th place, one spot safe of the PlayOuts.
19th defeat for Crotone
It’s the same old story for the Crotone. The Squali led at the Ezio Scida after six minutes through a Vlad Golemic half-volley but then lacked the confidence to go on with the job.
Ternana’s attack was everwhelming, the equaliser arriving from a set-piece via Anthony Partipilo — the Bari-born attacker capturing his seventh of the season.
The Rossoverdi’s chances of PlayOff football are all but over, however, that didn’t stop them from pushing for the winner. Marino Defendi struck a mistimed volley into the ground and over the heads of despairing Crotone players who were positioned on the goal line.
Sure, Cristiano Lucarelli can daydream as Ternana maintains a mathematical chance of going up. Same story, different page, for Francesco Modesto in regards to salvation, who simply can not afford a twentieth defeat during the next four rounds.
Ciao Bella Ciao
While it’s still mathematically possible for Pordenone to make the PlayOut, winning all four remaining games would see them reach 29 only points.
Bari is on the way up after clinching the Lega Pro (Serie C) Group C title last week.
All the Matchday 34 Results
A big statement was made by Lecce who now sets the pace with four rounds to go. While Alessandria pulls clear of the relegation zone, Pordenone is all but relegated and can now play the kids. Cosenza won its match in hand with Benevento, the Lupi now shoot three points clear of the drop zone.
Leading Scorers MD34
Enrico Baldini’s brace sees him enter the Top 10 fray while Mattia Valoti strikes again.
The Serie B Table on MD34
Playoffs: The Top 6 are steaming ahead. Surely this is the most entertaining Serie B season in history!
PlayOuts and Relegation: Cosenza and Alessandria are the favourites to contest the PlayOut with Vicenza three points behind Cosenza, Crotone lagging behind and Pordenone all but relegated.
Remaining Highlights from MD34
Lecce Spal, Perugia Pisa, Ascoli Reggina, Alessandria Pordenone, Benevento Vicenza, Cosenza Monza, Crotone Ternana,
Next Games on Matchday 35
Top 8 sides: Monza vs Brescia is set to shape automatic promotion spots and there’s heavy importance on Parma vs Ascoli and Pisa vs Como.
PlayOut: Vicenza vs Perugia carries weight for relegation and promotion as does Cittadella vs Alessandria
The Serie B Playoff dates (below)
Play Off First Round
Friday, 13th May 6 v 7 (X), Saturday 14th May, 5 v 8 (Y).
PlayOut Dates
16th vs 17th of Serie B will be contested on Thursday, 12th of May and Friday, 20th of May (Home and Away).
Play Off Semifinal
Tuesday, 17th May. (X v 3) Wednesday, 18th May. (Y v 4) Saturday, 21st May. (3 v X) Sunday, 22nd May. (4 v Y)
Play Off Final
Thursday, May 26th and Sunday, May 29th.
Serie B Season 2022–2023 Calendar
Next season’s calendar is confirmed. The championship starts on Saturday 13 August and ends on Friday 19 May 2023. There will be a break for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with the 15th round taking place on November 12th and the resumption on boxing day, Monday December 26th.
