Pisa is leaning…towards Serie A
The Nerazzurri are the big movers on Matchday 29
Welcome to the Serie B roundup as Torregrossa hauls the Nerazzurri back to the summit while Monza mounts pressure on the Top 4.
There is simply no other choice than to kick it off with Perugia’s Salvatore Burrai and his stunning 91st-minute winner at Reggina. He accomplished what Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t in his Italian football career — score a blistering, swerving free kick to win the match.
Only three points separated these two but Reggina — although behind the Grifone on the table — was the warm favourite given their recent run of good form.
Victory for Perugia meant a jump up to 8th place temporarily, leaving Roberto Stellone’s men loitering in 11th after the 0–1 loss at the Stadio Oreste Granillo.
The script was written. The Umbrians were awarded a late free kick and up stepped a relatively unknown Serie C veteran, roughly 25 yards out from Alessandro Micai’s goal.
Salvatore Burrai, take a bow. That’s his first goal of the season, and what a vital one it could turn out to be if Perugia nudges it’s way into the Top 8.
The Sardinian central-midfielder must now prepare for combat against Spal while Reggina arm wrestles Cittadella in another spicy Top 8 wannabe six-pointer.
Pisa crushes Cremonese on Sunday
A rampant Pisa returned to the top of the Serie B standings for the first time since Matchday 19 with a superb 3–0 victory over Cremonese at the Garibaldi Arena on Sunday afternoon.
The Nerazzurri are flying thanks to Ernesto Torregrossa’s brace and a late goal from George Puscas as Nicolas denied Luca Zanimacchia from the penalty spot at 1–0.
In short, Torregrossa now has five goals for Pisa since his arrival two months ago, slotting a 9th-minute penalty and then tapping home a Pietro Beruatto cross in the 50th.
With the scoreline at 1–0, Samuele Birindelli was adjudged to have fouled Emmanuele Valeri on the byline and Cremonese had a penalty of their own after a VAR check. However, Zanimacchia was denied by a superb Nicolas save — his second of the season — in the 42nd minute.
Pisa soldiered on and Puscas and turned home his third goal in less than a month, dispatching a pinpoint delivery from Adam Nagy in the 89th minute.
Cremonese were undone by a lively Pisa outfit which has now kept successive clean sheets, maintaining the division’s best defensive record with just twenty-two goals conceded in twenty-nine matches.
Pisa, who plays Ascoli on Wednesday, now leaps over Cremonese and Lecce to stand alone at the top of Serie B on 55 points, 2 points ahead of Le Tigre who host last-placed Pordenone midweek.
Friday Night Calcio: Si, Grazie
Beppe Iachini has been unable to turn around the fortunes of the Gialloblu as Parma was once again forced to settle for a draw, their fourteenth of the season.
Even though there are 27 more points to play for, the Crociati’s aspirations of promotion are dimming. Not so for Cittadella, who led up until the 81st minute courtesy of a Giacomo Beretta first-half penalty, and remain just two places outside the Top 8.
With Santiago Visentin copping a second yellow card for a high arm, Stanko Juric headed home a super Juan Brunetta set piece. However, it was the Argentine that would plant Parma’s 96th minute penalty against the crossbar after referee Matteo Marchetti ruled that Beretta hand-balled.
Another missed opportunity for Parma. Eleven yellow cards and a red was a reflection of a tense affair at the Tardini. Iachini could regain Gigi Buffon for their travels to Vicenza. Cittadella requires a win over Reggina to keep up the pressure on Ascoli.
Saturday’s Match of the Day: Lecce v Brescia
Lecce came into this match in equal first place, Brescia in fourth, and just two points separated these sides after both failed to win on Matchday 28.
Gabriel Streffezza unleashed the fury with a marauding 30-metre inverted run and 25-yard thunderbolt into Jesse Joronen’s top corner to set the tone on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Medhi Leris was then taken out by Alessandro Plizzari and Brescia had themselves a first-half penalty. Joronen atoned by blocking Marko Pajac’s spot kick but Dimitri Bisoli cleaned up the mess, tucking away the rebound in the 30th minute.
It ended with the points shared. Pisa took full advantage, leaping above Lecce while Brescia maintains fourth.
Relegation: When Sharks Lose Teeth
Crotone has extended it’s winless-streak to eleven matches after losing 3–1 at Benevento. The Rossoblu, destined for Lega Pro, are still languishing in 19th place. Over the past 21 outings, their only victory was against last-placed Pordenone.
Led by Giovanni Stroppa and Serse Cosmi during the 2020/21 Serie A campaign and dearly remembered for unwrapping the gift that is Junior Messias, Crotone now finds themselves 7 points adrift of regional rival, Cosenza (17th, play out zone).
Gabriele Moncini snatched himself a rare brace for La Strega while ex Venezia hitman, Francesco Forte, made no mistake with his stoppage-time penalty, notching up his fourth for Benevento since joining in January.
Crotone’s own-goal was donated by Alessandro Vogliacco, and Francesco Modesto’s week is only going to get tougher as the Squali take on Frosinone (7th) and Monza (5th).
*Cosenza and Benevento have their match in hand
All the Matchday 29 Results
The Serie B Table: MD29
Playoffs: Pisa are the big movers while Monza, Benevento, Frosinone, Ascoli and Perugia were all victorious. Cremonese was the only Top 8 side that lost on MD29.
PlayOuts and Relegation: Pordenone was the only bottom six side that earned a point on MD29. This doesn’t affect much at all as the Neroverdi move to 13 points.
Top Scorers: After 29 Rounds
Massimo Coda leads the way on 17. He was kept quiet against Brescia but his teammate, Gabriel Streffezza, added to his tally. Alfredo Donnarumma struck his 10th for Ternana while Leonardo Mancuso got his first for Monza since departing Empoli.
Read the Serie B Guide to Promotion and Demotion for clarity on the mechanics of the Playoffs.
Other Matchday 29 Highlights
Monza Vicenza, Frosinone Alessandria, SPAL Ascoli, Pordenone Como
Ternana Cosenza, Reggina Perugia
Next Games on Matchday 30
