Massimino towards an absolute full house: another sign of the city’s love for the red and blue colours. Yesterday’s presale confirmed the presence of 3,400 spectators for Catania-Benevento plus 13,950 season ticket holders: the total figure today reaches 17,365 fans. The two corners sold out, as did the lower grandstand A. At 9pm there were very few tickets available for access to the Elite and an average availability to enter grandstand B.
Sold out for the decisive match
The last match of the regular season of the C championship will be sold out, the most important which will issue a historic verdict: play-offs achieved also thanks to the results of the other competing clubs, or play-outs in the unfortunate event in which the team should they lose and Monterosi, Turris above all should get a result. Suspended between doubts, fears, discouragement, anger, the Catania team will go to the stadium in the meantime. They have never turned their backs on a team that has racked up the astronomical figure of 17 defeats, the last of which was painful and disconcerting, in Sorrento. That easy match ball was wasted in an irritating way, in some ways. Because the defeat against a safe team, in an almost deserted stadium, against an opponent who didn’t have all this interest in the standings and who didn’t force the shots, really messed up the stability of a fan base that will now have to support the team against a Benevento still in the running for second place.
The fans are there
The organized fans will be there, as always they were the first to respond given that the two corners, at the time of the opening of the presale, put up the “full house” sign. The away fans will also arrive (until yesterday 115 tickets had been sold in the relevant sector) and in good numbers, but for years there has been a twinning with the Catania team rooted in the relationships of great friendship between supporters. An extra element that adds to a picture so far entirely in favor of the team coached by Zeoli. Then there is the sporting aspect and the opposing coach Gaetano Auteri rightly didn’t open the door to his opponents: «We’re playing everything too, it will be a difficult match for anyone» is the gist of the statements regarding tomorrow’s match afternoon.
Many former red and blues, who participated in the “A goal for Solidarity” event at the Massimino, with the usual full crowd, enthusiasm and social messages, ideally pushed Catania beyond the difficulties. Like Dario Marcolin, Sinisa Mihajlovic’s former deputy: «I am convinced that the push from the public will be decisive as always, but every player must give their best. The whole city will take to the field against Benevento.” Davide Baiocco also gave his encouragement: «Catania must overcome the difficulties, the full house at the stadium is yet another confirmation of the love for the red and blue colours». Other words of encouragement were pronounced, reiterating the same concepts, by Giovanni Marchese, Ciccio Pannitteri, but also by the Brazilian Mario Jardel, two-time golden shoe in Europe, 450 career goals scored among other things with Vasco Da Gama, Gremio, Porto, Galatasaray, Sporting Lisbon and in these days Luca Napoli’s guest in Catania.
City mobilized
In short, the whole city is mobilising, because it will be a play-off before a possible end of the championship, hopefully aimed towards the top of the table and certainly not to maintain the category. The city has already won by repeating the box office row, now it’s the team’s turn. A last effort, necessary and fundamental. Then there will be plenty of time to address other topics.
