It’s not over until it’s over. Or: it doesn’t happen, but if it happens… These are the two slogans dusted off in the last week by Ravenna fans who, 90 minutes from the end of the regular season, can still dream of promotion to Serie C. This is because last Sunday Carpi wasted the first match point on the Imolese pitch, which will be the “referee” of this splendid two-way race next Sunday, when they will play the final match of the championship against Ravenna at the Benelli.
But if the ticket for Serie C has not yet been delivered with one match to go, the credit also and above all goes to Massimo Gadda’s team, practically perfect after the defeat suffered at Cabassi last 17 March. Since that day the Giallorossi haven’t missed a beat: 6 consecutive victories in 6 days with 17 goals scored or above all 0 goals conceded. The last goal conceded by Ravenna is precisely the one that risks making all the difference in the world, because, if Sall from Carpi had not scored in the direct match, today Ravenna would be in front, who can really curse that knockout and of course the absurd exclusion of Pistoiese: those damned 2 evaporated points are precisely the same ones that separate the Giallorossi and the Red and Whites in the standings. Consequently, without that measure, today Ravenna and Carpi would be tied in the standings, ready to play for the play-off in the event of a double success on the last day. Nappello and his associates, however, next Sunday will have to beat Imola and above all cheer for Certaldo, not yet doomed. To avoid relegation to Eccellenza, the Tuscan team would need a real miracle: recovering 3 points from Sammaurese and Progresso, winning in Carpi and hoping for a knockout for the Giallorossi at home against San Giuliano City and for the Emilians against Mezzolara . It would be science fiction or almost, but Certaldo will still try to compete against Cabassi, because after all they have nothing to lose. Should the 1 mark come out in Carpi, Ravenna would be left with a great regret, the result of an injustice (albeit supported by the regulation, which should at least be updated), and the match in the hands of the playoffs, which however are not guaranteed (in case of victory) promotion to Serie C. «We will try and naturally we want to win at all costs against Imola – glissa Gadda – and then we’ll see. What is certain is that on the pitch we won the same points as Carpi and, with one matchday to go, we would be first in the standings…”.
