Market still blocked (Veron exiting towards the junction) and the day before an already important match at the home of Messina who are preparing for the away match in Castelnuovo Cilento with Gelbison, one of the disappointments of this first third of the season. The Biancoscudati are chasing a success away from home that has been missing since the Acireale blitz on the fourth day, but Garufi and his teammates remain aware that they cannot slow down. A paradox for a team that has been “running” since the beginning of the championship, between penalties, a hastily built squad and difficulties linked to the temporary exercise, with bankruptcy trusteeship as an obligatory bureaucratic step.
Furthermore, the away match against Gelbison has always been complicated for Messina, capable of winning only once in the six away matches played. The only success dates back to February 2023, with Kragl’s brace in the match played at Agropoli, home ground for the Cilentans in Serie C. On that occasion the locals had found a temporary equalizer with the former De Sena, but Messina managed to win 2-1, relaunching the race towards salvation which was then achieved at the expense of Gelbison themselves. Victory that broke a negative tradition that began with the first match of 2011, which ended 1-1 thanks to Agate’s goal which he replied to Ortolini. The following year came a bad defeat (2-0 signed by Grimaudo and Senè), but at the end of the season Catalano’s Messina returned to the professional ranks. A double draw followed in the 17/18 and 20/21 seasons: first a 0-0 “resistance” under the guidance of Venuto, then a 1-1 with goals from Gagliardi and Addessi, in a tournament which saw Novelli’s Messina get the jump in category.
The most vivid memory, however, remains that of the 2023 playout: in Agropoli Gelbison won the first leg playout in the 93rd minute with Tumminello, but at the “Franco Scoglio” Messina turned everything around with Ragusa’s strike and the miracles of Ermanno Fumagalli.
Today the stage, scenario, category and stakes are certainly different, but the need to win for Messina remains the same.
