Suspended between the possibility of chasing promotion to Serie B and the danger of a sensational relegation to Serie D. It is the curious case of Catania, whose fate has yet to be fully written in the final 90 minutes. The match against Benevento is worth a season for the Etna team who absolutely need a full result against the Strega, to preserve the right to participate in the national play-off phase, achieved thanks to the victory in the Serie C Italian Cup.
It is known, in fact, that this right would be canceled if Catania were to end the regular season in the play-out zone: in this case, Zeoli’s team would be forced to play not in the play-offs for promotion, but rather in those to avoid relegation. The risk is there and is still real, even more so after Potenza’s defeat against Sorrento. Which will force the Etna players to have to chase the three points on Saturday at ‘Massimino’.
But in what case would Catania end up playing for remaining in the category? First of all, a premise is necessary. It is not certain that even by finishing the championship in 16th place, the Sicilians will play the play-outs: this is because the regulation provides that the play-offs are not played if there is a margin of more than eight points between the fifth-last and the penultimate. At the moment, in second to last place is the Monterosi Tuscia who is ten points behind Tello and his teammates.
So what would be the results that could condemn them? The combination of three victories is necessary: that of Benevento in Catania and, at the same time, those of Monterosi at home against Foggia and of Turris on the pitch of an already relegated Brindisi.
The position of Cudini’s Foggia is singular, losing at home against Monterosi, it could open the doors to qualifying for the play offs, given that with Catania in the play outs, the eleventh place in Group C would be the ones to play for the play-offs for promotion. position which is currently occupied by the Rossoneri. Who, however, need to score points to put Sorrento behind them. A juniper bush. In short, it will be a final to be experienced and at the ‘Massimino’ it will be a real match: Benevento has been warned.
