There are races that can change the meaning of a season, for better or for worse. This one against Brescia this afternoon is: for the value of the opponent, for the 41 days without a success, for the even tougher challenges that will come later. Catanzaro has no alternatives: «We have been missing the victory for a long time and therefore we must do more than our best because so far it has evidently not been enough – said Fabio Caserta -. During the championship the races all look the same, but some are the key and for us this is very important. Not so much for the standings, especially in terms of mentality and attitude, a victory would lead us to look at the future with more conviction. Draws are important, but only if you can’t add a full score in the next match.”
It is the umpteenth stage in the search for a new dimension after many failed attempts through their own faults, such as in the away match at Marassi, where the blitz at Samp’s home was truly one step away: «It was a great match in Genoa and we are sorry for the result (3-3, ed.). Let’s start again from the performance, which we watched over and over again, analyzing the mistakes made and the positive things. In the first half our maneuver was more beautiful than effective, in my opinion we should have been faster in turning the ball around, as we then managed in the second half, when we had more malice in the area and took advantage of the opportunities created. It made me a bit angry because in the 90th minute, regardless of the man down, you can’t give Samp certain opportunities, we were really close and the boys would have deserved it”, reiterated the forty-six year old coach.
Surprises. Pompetti disqualified, Buso not at his best (however recovered), the issues to be resolved in the Giallorossi 3-5-2 are different and complicated to understand: in the middle Koutsoupias is ahead of Coulibaly, while on the flanks Compagnon and Ceresoli can get the better of Seck and Cassandro the first, on the right, on D’Alessandro the second, on the left, but the puzzle is likely to be solved only in the morning, consequently surprises cannot be ruled out. «The choice in the middle depends on those on the flanks, where Situm’s absence weighs heavily due to what he gives in the two phases», the coach did not reveal himself before the finishing touches in San Floro. «In the last three matches we have conceded more goals, we don’t underestimate it, we need to be more compact in some moments of the match. Do I expect more goals from midfielders and attackers? In the first case, the insertions without the ball must be exploited better, in the second, except obviously for Iemmello who would make the difference in any other Serie B team, they must give more but we must also put them in the ideal conditions.”
Battle… and celebration. The opponent is a tough nut to crack, exactly as it was three times in the last championship: «Brescia are proven, they have that base, they have physicality, they are good in both phases, they are top class». The bad weather, the mid-table position and the results that do not meet the – high – expectations of the environment have slowed down the presale a bit, as has always happened in the latest home games. This does not mean that today, to renew a thirty-year twinning with the Brescians, the atmosphere around the match (inside and outside the stadium) will be festive with the appetizer of the procession that will be held in the surroundings of the “Ceravolo” among the united ultras of the two teams. «We must exploit our home advantage. Indeed, I send a message to the fans, especially on this occasion I ask them to stay close to us throughout the match, we really need it to achieve something more. I would like to see again – added Caserta – the crowd that was there for the big occasions at the first match against Sassuolo.”
“Ceravolo” Stadium – 3pm
Catanzaro-Brescia
Catanzaro: Pigliacelli, Brighenti, Scognamillo, Bonini, Compagnon, Kouytsoupias, Petriccione, Pontisso, Ceresoli, Iemmello, Biasci. All. Caserta. Brescia: Lezzerini, Dickmann, Cistana, Adorni, Jallow, Bisoli, Verreth, Besaggio, Galazzi, Borrelli, Moncini. All. Maran.
Referee: Perri of Rome.
On the bench: Catanzaro: 1 Dini, 99 Borrelli, 2 Piras, 3 Turicchia, 84 Cassandro, 24 Pagano, 70 D’Alessandro, 80 Coulibaly, 29 Seck, 45 Buso, 90 Pittarello. Brescia: 12 Avella, 22 Andrenacci, 4 Paghera, 5 Calvani, 7 Juric, 8 Bjarnason, 9 Bianchi, 19 Corrado, 20 Nuamah, 26 Bertagnoli, 27 Olzer, 32 Papetti.