The battle has only just started, but the pressure is already intense in the notoriously unforgiving world of the Cadetti. Despite continued uncertainty over TV rights in the peninsula, the Friday and Monday games return for Week 2.
Serie B football arrives at the generously titled Stadio Olimpico Carlo Zecchini for the first time in Grosseto’s 95-year history on Friday evening and the visitors are an expectant Brescia side. The Rondinelle cruised past Vicenza last weekend to reinforce their position amongst the promotion favourites and will accept nothing less than maximum points against a side who are still adapting to life in the second tier.
The Torelli were flattened 3-0 by Modena in their curtain raiser, but put up a good fight before they were reduced to 10 men. The crowd will be a 12th man for the hosts, but they may need a few more to stop Serse Cosmi’s classy side.
The Stadio Omobono Tenni plays host to two recent Serie A stragglers as Treviso face Lecce. The Trevigiani completed a much-needed overhaul of last term’s average squad in the summer, but undid so much of that good work when they sold star striker Dino Fava in mid-week. Their opponents have no such goal scoring woes as they boast one of the Second Divison’s most mouth-watering partnerships in years in prolific pair Simone Tiribocchi and Elvis Abbruscato.
Bookies’ favourites Bologna were frustrated by Rimini in Week 1 and looked scarily short of firepower. Fortunately, the Felsiniei have thrown money at the problem and secured Treviso star Fava, and could be hours away from signing ex-Verona goal machine Adailton. On Monday the Rossoblu visit Spezia, who were stunned 3-2 by Albinoleffe in a game they had led 2-0. "It was a bitter defeat," bewailed Eagles’ boss Antonio Soda. "They were a tough team, but we gifted them two goals through errors."
Also looking to kickstart a promotion push are newly-relegated Chievo. They should sweep aside Triestina at the Stadio Bentegodi, but may be without striking prodigy Victor Obinna. Even if the Nigerian doesn’t exit through the transfer window, he may refuse to play as he feels Serie B is below him.
The other games to watch see Ascoli looking to build on a 4-1 opening-day win as they visit Ravenna, while ex-Azzurri star Stefano Fiore is ready for his Mantova debut against Avellino.
Source: C4 Football Italia
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