Taranto dreams of returning to Serie B, Foggia-Cerignola playoff duel

One hundred and eighty minutes to the end of a Serie C championship that still has a lot to tell, at the top and at the bottom. Juve Stabia celebrated their direct promotion to Serie B. Brindisi sadly said goodbye to the category after just a year after returning to professionalism, but the blue and whites with great loyalty and a sense of duty are fully honoring the tournament until the end ( three successes in the last three days). For the rest, tomorrow and next Saturday will be decisive, at high altitudes and on the lower floors. Seven of them, from Puglia and Lucania, play a lot: Taranto, Picerno, Foggia, Audace Cerignola, Potenza, Monopoli and Virtus Francavilla. All games at the same time, so as not to give anyone an advantage. Tomorrow, Lega Pro group C will take the field at 8pm. The final act will be Saturday 27 April at 6.30pm.

DESIRE FOR PLAYOFFS Taranto and Picerno have already arithmetically crossed the finishing line of the play-offs for B and in this final rush they will try to place themselves on the grid in the best possible position. The Ionian team, fifth, would be third without the four penalty points due to the club’s administrative-financial defaults (appeal rejected by the FIGC Court of Appeal). Tomorrow big match at Iacovone against vice leaders Avellino, then the away match in Latina. Capuano sets no limits, he dreams of bringing a city that has been missing from the second series since ’93 to the cadet championship. In the playoffs, Picerno could also be a loose cannon, provided he regains the brilliance of a few months ago. From mid-February onwards just two victories, in 11 matches, for the team coached by Longo. Tomorrow there is the home match against Brindisi, finally the away match against Castellammare di Stabia.

Regular season finale with thrill for Foggia and Cerignola, both chasing a place in the playoffs. Foggia is tenth, with L’Audace trailing by just one length. Tomorrow a crucial derby between the two teams, at the Zaccheria. Foggia, which in the last two months has swerved and climbed the rankings, last Saturday Potenza’s blow to cancel two knockouts in a row. After the Capitanata derby, Cudini’s team will close the regular season away to Teramo, against Monterosi who are trying to avoid relegation to D. Cerignola, taken by the hand by Raffaele after Tisci’s dismissal, has relaunched in the last round with a 3-0 home win against Francavilla. The match in Foggia will be followed, for the yellow-blues, by a match at Monterisi against Giugliano, seventh in the standings.

Every man for himself At the rear, said Brindisi whose fate is already known, Potenza, Monopoli and Francavilla all play out in the last 180 minutes. Potenza must react to ensure that this championship which has already been disappointing for the rossoblù colors does not turn into a nightmare. Marchionni was also sacked after Colombo and Lerda. Director Varrà was also fired. It’s up to De Giorgio to steer the ship to the port of salvation. Tomorrow there is the delicate away match in Messina. Six days later, the direct clash at Viviani with Virtus Francavilla.

Monopoli, after a great comeback (eight useful results in a row), slowed down by losing the derby at the Veneziani against Taranto. Biancoverdi fourth from last, called to the away match tomorrow against Crotone who are chasing the playoffs. After that, the home match against Messina. Francavilla, third from last, hosts league leaders Juve Stabia tomorrow and will finally face Potenza in Basilicata. Watch out for gaps. The playouts will not be held if the final gap in the standings is eight points or more: this applies both to the possible pairing between fifth to last and penultimate and to that between fourth to last and third to last. In this case, third from last and penultimate would be directly relegated to Serie D.

Adrenaline, suspense, uncertainty. Apulian and Lucanian assault, 180 minutes to be experienced. A finale in style, before the long-awaited playoffs and playouts.