Eighty minutes that can be worth a season. Fiorentina and Lecce, fifth on equal points (35) in group C of theUnder 16 Serie A and Bwill take to the field on Sunday (3pm) at Viola Park to win a place among the best sixteen of the championship.
The Viola, who lost 3-1 away to Cosenza in the last round (Mazzulla and a brace from Barbagallo for the rossoblù), have two results available out of three against the Giallorossi by virtue of the outcome of the first leg (Lecce -Fiorentina 1-2, 22 December): “We arrive at this decisive match rather well – underlines the Fiorentina coach Stefano Guberti -, despite the fact that in the last season of the championship we did not play impeccably but they are accidents along the way. Five months ago , if they had told us that we would be able to compete for a place in the round of 16 we would have signed up. Today, regardless of whether the objective is achieved or not, we can be satisfied with the growth that the boys have had and are having even if there is. ‘there is still a lot to improve in various aspects.” Guberti’s past as a professional footballer was fundamental for the growth of the Viola group and, in his career, he wore, among many others, the shirts of Bari, Roma and Sampdoria: “At the beginning of his career as a coach – specifies the Viola coach – pass on to the kids the experiences you have had as a footballer, especially the attitude and spirit of sacrifice.” The one who is having the right attitude is certainly the striker, born in 2008, Federico Tonti, scorer of 9 goals in 23 games: “He has had significant growth – he is keen to say – and I am convinced that he still has ample room for improvement “.
© Andrea Stella
Lecce, who compared to Fiorentina are required to win to access the direct elimination phase of the championship, are fresh from a 1-0 home success over Ascoli (Margheriti decisive): “We are very calm – confesses the Giallorossi coach Fabio Marrocco -, the boys are very focused and determined so far, we have had an excellent season: the round of 16 would be the right reward.” A ‘prize’ which, if it did not arrive, would not take anything away from the great work done by the club and the Salento coach: “At the beginning of the season – underlines the Lecce coach – the objective was to instil confidence and awareness in their abilities in these boys who, with the exception of two additions (Giacomo Voglino, who arrived in the summer from Virtus Francavilla and was injured on 24 September during the 2-1 away defeat against Roma, and Francesco Longo, taken from the Roman amateurs of Grifone, ed.), are the same as last season. On Sunday we have the opportunity to combine the growth of the group with the results.”
In the 29thª day, the reigning vice-champions Inter and Roma, first on equal points (54), will respectively host Sassuolo at the Konami Youth Development Center and Hellas Verona at ‘Di Bartolomei’. Behind the leading pair, Christian Terni’s Milan, currently fourth (49 points), will visit Bologna, tenth (36 points), while Empoli, fifth (44 points), will have a rest period. The home match of Atalanta, third in the table (52 points), with Lecce, fourteenth (27 points), has been postponed to Thursday 9 May (11am).
Maurizio Neri’s Sassuolo, second in group A with 46 points, will face Torino at the ‘Mazzola’, sixth on equal points (38) with Genoa, who will challenge Cremonese away, third from last (21 points). Behind the neroverdi, one point away, Denis Biavati’s Bologna will host league leaders Juventus (50 points) while Mattia Bernardi’s Parma, fourth (39 points), will have to deal with Napoli, second to last (16 points) in Noceto ). Moving on to group B, where two play-off places remain to be assigned, Romanian János József Székely’s Lecco, fourth with 41 points, will open the gates of the ‘Rigamonti-Ceppi’ at Monza, third with 46 points and certain of a place to the direct elimination phase. Behind the Blucelesti, two points distant, Atalanta and Brescia will play away from home with Feralpisalò, eleventh (26 points), and Hellas Verona, seventh (33 points). In group C, a long-distance duel between Davide Moro’s Empoli and reigning champions Roma, second and third forces in the championship with 55 and 53 points, who will host Frosinone, fourth (37 points) and arithmetically in the play offs, and league leaders Fiorentina (64 points).
Last day: Sunday 28 April
Qualified for the direct elimination phase: Bologna, Empoli, Fiorentina*, Frosinone, Inter*, Juventus*, Milan*, Monza, Roma and Sassuolo.
*arithmetically in the quarter-finals.
The first and second-placed teams in each group directly access the quarter-finals while the third, fourth, best fifth of groups A and C and fifth of group B access the play-offs.
Clash at the top in group A between Claudio Grauso’s Juventus and Alessandro Maroni’s Sampdoria, first with equal points (49), who will compete at the ‘3 Campanili’. Similar situation, in terms of the round of 16, in group B, where Alessandro Vicinanza Toscano’s Lecco and Francesco Caldana’s Hellas Verona, sixth and seventh with 40 and 39 points, will face each other at the home of the gialloblù who, compared to the blucelesti, they are obliged to win to gain a place among the best sixteen of the championship. Finally, Stefano Lo Russo’s Empoli, first in group C with 54 points, will do the home honors against Gianluca Procopio’s Lazio, third (40 points).
Last day: Sunday 28 April
Qualified for the round of 16: Atalanta, Como, Empoli, Frosinone, Genoa, Inter, Juventus, Lazio, Milan, Monza, Parma, Roma and Sampdoria.
The top five from groups A and C and the top six from group B advance to the round of 16.
