The time for alibis is up. All that matters is winning. It is the mandatory imperative that Bari will have to put into practice in the home match against Pisa, with kick-off at 2pm, the 34th stage of the Serie B championship. The increasingly alarming ranking, which has produced the third change of the season on the bench , also with the input of those who will take the field today against the Tuscans, puts captain Di Cesare and his teammates to face their responsibilities, once and for all.
The moment of the two teams
The home team’s crisis has been the subject of in-depth analysis for some time now: the red and whites go into the match having had their worst performance of the season, as well as being at the bottom of Serie B in terms of spoils collected in the last 5 matches (1). The points in the ranking after the last round are 35, which places Bari in the playout zone, -8 from Pisa. The Nerazzurri, after two thirds of the championship lived in anonymity, in the last period seem to have found the right pace to be able to aspire to a place in the promotion play-off grid, today only one point away: 3 victories achieved in the last 5 matches , against Feralpisalò, Palermo and Ternana. Two defeats, both suffered away from home, against Como and Brescia. It is precisely the journey away from the Arena Garibaldi that is the weak point of the team coached by Aquilani: 19 points were recorded, as a result of 5 successes, 4 draws and 7 knockouts. Pisa’s last external success dates back to 3 March, on the Cittadella pitch. On the other hand, it is precisely the home performance that gives a little more courage to Bari, 11th in the special ranking of points earned within friendly walls. Victory in absolute terms has been missing for the Apulians since 17 February, the day of their narrow victory against Feralpisalò, the second in a row after the 3-1 win against Lecco the week before. After that the journey brought only 2 points in the next 8 days: a disastrous and fatal roadmap for Iachini’s bench, which was then handed over to Federico Giampaolo. The former Primavera coach at San Nicola will make his debut as a coach in the professionals and in the Serie B championship.
Those summoned
Nothing to do for Diaw. The striker, struggling with chronic back problems, was not called up. Unfortunately, a heavy absence, but which is not newsworthy, given the disastrous year of the former Modena player in terms of injuries. Guiebre is also out due to a muscle problem. Kallon, however, returns to the squad and will be able to lend support to the offensive battery. Di Cesare and Sibilli return after their respective disqualifications.
The choices
Giampaolo will launch the four-man defence, with Vicari alongside the captain, Ricci on the left and Pucino on the opposite side, favored over Dorval. In midfield he will have Benali’s job in the control room, with Maita in the role of inside right. After Como, second consecutive start for Bellomo, who will play the role of left midfielder. The 33 year old from Bari Vecchia should win the competition from Lulic, Edjouma and Acampora. In attack, the only ones certain of a place should be Sibilli, in the role of attacking midfielder, and Puscas, both former players of the match. Aramu, Morachioli and Nasti are competing for the last shirt of the offensive department, with the former on the verge of confirmation. If the hypothesis were confirmed, the “Christmas tree” module would be formed, with Aramu and Sibilli behind Puscas. Consolidated structure and already dear to the former red and white coach Mignani. Between the posts, barring any surprises, Brenno will be seen again. The Brazilian goalkeeper will return to his starting gloves after being excluded, due to a technical choice, in the last match against Como.
History
Tradition is favorable to the Apulians. Out of 36 previous matches there have been 11 victories for Bari, 18 draws and 7 defeats. At home the match almost always ended with a success for the red and whites (8) or a draw (9). Only on one occasion did the two teams split the stakes. Exactly as happened in the first leg, where Chukwu’s providential goal, 5 minutes from the 90th minute, allowed the team then coached by Mignani to equalize Beruatto’s goal.
SO ON THE FIELD
BARI (4-3-2-1): Brenno; Pucino, Di Cesare, Vicari, Ricci; Maita, Benali, Bellomo; Sibilli, Aramu; Puscas. All. Giampaolo
PISA (3-4-2-1): Nicolas; Calabresi Caracciolo Canestrelli; Barbieri Marin Esteves D’Alessandro; Valoti, Arena; Bonfanti. All. Aquilani
REFEREE: Pezzuto (Lecce); assistants: Mokhtar (Lecco), Votta (Moliterno); fourth official: D’Eusanio (Faenza); VAR: Di Martino (Teramo),;AVAR SalvatoreLongo (Paola)
