Bari And Pisa, two teams with the same recent fate: from the Serie A close to the risk of relegation which, especially for the red and whites, risks turning into reality. The Apulians and Tuscans, both protagonists of a play-off final that they bitterly lost, both struggled to metabolise that painful defeat and on Saturday, at the “San Nicola”, after the 1-1 draw in the first leg, they will find themselves against each other again.
The 2021/2022 Serie B which ended with the direct promotion to Serie A of Lecce and Cremonese, saw access to the play-offs, among others, Pisa And Monza who then found themselves against each other in the final. D’Angelo’s men, after having been champions in the winter and at the top of the table for more than half of the championship, finished in third place with 67 points, the same as Monza who won the first leg of the play-off final by 2-1. In the return leg, once regulation time had concluded at 3-2 for Pisa, extra time would decide the last team promoted to Serie A, with Marrone in the 96th minute and Gytkjaer in the 101st minute giving president Berlusconi’s club the jump in category. For the Pisans it was a bitter disappointment which had effects from a psychological and performance point of view at the beginning of the following season, the 2022/2023 with only one point collected in the first five, zero victories and last position in the standings.
The club, after parting ways with coach D’Angelo, decided to recall him and step by step, Pisa managed to climb up the table and then finish the regular season in 11th position with 47 points. If the Tuscans managed to retain the category despite the play-off defeat the year before, today for Bari the situation is completely different. Four coaches, signings that are not always successful and an environment that at this point fears a painful relegation to Serie C. Pisa, after a few months, metabolised the hard blow while for the red and whites it wasn’t the same, especially on a psychological level. Pavoletti’s goal in the 94th minute of Bari-Cagliari is still alive in everyone’s memory, Folorunsho’s post still cries out for revenge, the fans are still slightly shaken and reflecting on how the final one was the cause of all the evils. Five days to go, fifteen points available and Pisa as a model of resilience: will Bari be able to save themselves?
Tags: Bari Pisa teams bitterly lost final common Tuscans models resilience
