The Countdown To Serie A
Automatic promotion STILL possible for six Serie B clubs
Following a huge round of upsets, Vicenza, Crotone and Cosenza claim maximum points, the last PlayOff place is still up for grabs, and Lecce comes one step closer to Serie A at the completion of Match Day 36.
You’re gonna love this Match Day 36 screamer.
Breaking: Sudtirol, Modena and Bari all win their respective Serie C groups and are confirmed for Serie B 2022/23.
Is it too early to sing for Serie A? Giallorossi fans don’t think so.
Lecce overpowered Pisa 2–0 in the Serie B six-pointer of the round at the Stadio Via Del Mare, catapulting the Salentini back to the summit.
Fabio Lucioni and Paolo Faragò both grabbed their first goal each of the season in front of 25,000 raging home fans. The victory all but confirms that Marco Baroni’s side will contest Serie A football in 2022/23.
With the defeat, Pisa is now five points adrift of Lecce, however, the Nerazzurri still have two games to catch Cremonese — Le Tigre remain three points ahead — who suffered a shock loss along with Monza and Benevento.
Upcoming Matches: Vicenza vs Lecce, Lecce vs Pordenone. Pisa vs Cosenza, Frosinone vs Pisa.
banana skins for Benevento, Monza, Pisa and Cremonese
Four contenders for automatic promotion failed to get points on Match Day 36. Cremonese fortuitously remains in second place after going down 3–1 to Crotone at the Ezio Scida as the Squali laid on three first-half goals in a bid to avoid direct relegation.
Crotone 3 Cremonese 1: Augustus Kargbo (Crot), Jeremy Baez (OG Crot), Luca Calapai (Crot), Luca Zannimacchia (Crem).
Here’s why Serie B has a Top 8 and PlayOuts
Benevento took the lead into the break — a stunning Federico Barba header — but that was overturned as Ternana stole the points, along with the Witch’s temper, with two crafty second-half finishes.
Benevento 1 Ternana 2: Federico Barba (B), Alfredo Donnarumma (T), Anthony Partipilo (T).
Upcoming Matches: Monza vs Benevento and Benevento vs Spal, Ternana vs Perugia and Ascoli vs Ternana.
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Ciano’s screamer: the catalyst for an epic comeback
Monza also took the lead at the Stadio Benito Stirpe before Frosinone answered back to win 4–1 to pull to within a point of Ascoli and stay clear of Perugia.
The Bagai started strong but failed to make the most of their chances, paving the way for Camillo Ciano and Co. to unleash the Canarini fury as Fabio Grosso’s men plot their return to the top flight.
Frosinone 4 Monza 1: Dany Mota (M), Camillo Ciano (F), Alessio Zerbin (F), Michele Di Gregorio (OG F), Luigi Canotto (F)
Upcoming Matches: Spal vs Frosinone and Frosinone vs Pisa, Monza vs Benevento and Perugia vs Monza.
ciao for now, Citta
There were plenty of scoring opportunities at the Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca but the tie between Ascoli and Cittadella ended goalless. It also ended Citta’s five-year run of PlayOff participation while the Woodpeckers safely retained seventh place.
Upcoming Matches: Cremonese vs Ascoli, Ascoli vs Ternana. Cittadella vs Brescia, Cosenza vs Cittadella.
you just keep me hangin’ on
Perugia’s ambitions of top-flight football are still within reach after defeating Parma 2-1 at the Stadio Renato Curi.
Courtesy of two defensive errors, one howler in particular from Gigi Buffon, Perugia shot to a 2-0 lead after just seven minutes through Salvatore Burrai and Marco Olivieri. Franco Vazquez, arguably the Ducali’s player of the season, pulled one back in the 72nd minute.
Adrían Bernabé went close for Parma with this spectacular effort.
While Parma has little to play for, the Crociati will shape the relegation battle as they take on cellar-dwellers Alessandria and Crotone next. Perugia, who travels to Terni before hosting Monza in the final round, must bank on Frosinone dropping at least three points.
Spal is being hunted
Brescia thought they’d won their encounter at home to Spal after Matteo Tramoni picked the lock — and nutmegged Demba Thiam — in the 84th minute but Emmanuel Latte Lath scored his third of the season to silence the Rigamonti deep into stoppages.
Here is a blast from the past for the Calcio purists. Dario Hubner, happy birthday! 116 of his 217 goals were scored in Serie B with Cesena and Brescia.
Back to 2021/22, the result means that Spal still has breathing space over the PlayOut Zone while Brescia joins Pisa and Benevento on 63 points.
Upcoming Matches: Cittadella v Brescia and Brescia v Reggina, Spal v Frosinone and Benevento v Spal.
Relegation
The perfect corner kick, the brilliant header. That best describes Filippo Ranocchia’s delivery and Riccardo Brosco’s opening goal for Vicenza at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
With Riccardo Meggiorini’s 86th minute icing on the cake, the Biancorossi emerged with a priceless 2–0 away win against Como and are still hovering just below the PlayOut Zone.
Upcoming Matches: Vicenza vs Lecce, Alessandria vs Vicenza. Reggina vs Como, Como vs Cremonese.
the PlayOut Zone
Alessandria laid siege to Reggina’s goal but the match ended nil-all at the Stadio Giuseppe Moccagatta, allowing Cosenza to close the gap to two points.
Upcoming Matches: Parma vs Alessandria, Alessandria vs Vicenza. Reggina vs Como, Brescia vs Reggina.
Led by Joaquin Larrivey’s brace, Cosenza came from behind to defeat Pordenone 3–1 at the Marulla. Transferring over from the Ramarri in January, Michele Camporese captured his second goal for the month to ensure that his former club finished bottom of the Serie B classifica.
Nicolò Cambiaghi orchestrated Pordenone’s goal from the left as Alessandro Lovisa tapped in from a few yards but Larrivey advanced to six goals for the term since joining from Universidad de Chile in the winter window.
Upcoming Matches: Pisa vs Cosenza, Cosenza vs Cittadella. Pordenone vs Crotone, Lecce vs Pordenone.
precarious situation for the Squali
Crotone’s triumph over league-leader Cremonese endows the Sharks a stay of execution, but that lifeline could be cut off on Match Day 37 as the Calabrians dangle six points under the PlayOut Zone with just two rounds left.
Upcoming Matches: Pisa vs Cosenza, Cosenza vs Cittadella. Pordenone vs Crotone, Lecce vs Pordenone.
All the Matchday 36 Results
Leading Scorers MD36
Franco Vazquez and Alfredo Donnarumma notched up a goal each this week but have little chance of chasing down Massimo Coda to win the Paolo Rossi award.
The Serie B Table after MD36
Playoffs: Lecce has one boot in the door while Frosinone and Perugia have two rounds left to figure out who’s taking 8th place.
PlayOuts and Relegation: Spal is not safe yet and should the Biancazzurri allow Alessandria to finish on level points then the Grigi hold the head-to-head advantage. Crotone needs a miracle.
Remaining Highlights from MD36
Brescia Spal, Alessandria Reggina, Ascoli Cittadella, Perugia Parma, Como Vicenza
Next Games on Matchday 37
Top 8 sides: Watch out for Cremonese vs Ascoli, Spal vs Frosinone, Monza vs Benevento and Ternana vs Perugia.
PlayOut/Relegation: Keep an eye on Pisa vs Cosenza, Pordenone vs Crotone Vicenza vs Lecce and Parma 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.
Premio Pablito for Leading Goalscorer of Serie B 2021/22 (Premio Pablito translates to Pablito Prize).
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