The trend of previous seasons, strongly influenced by the field factor, has already been confirmed in the first round of the group playoffs. In 8 out of 9 casesfor the teams that had ranked worst in the championship, the away match proved fatal in terms of losing their composure and saying goodbye to their dreams of glory.
On the other hand, for the fifth, sixth and seventh ranked teams, who were granted the double bonus of playing at home and overcoming the first obstacle even with a draw without going through extra time or penalties, the effort of reaching even just one step above the opponent was not in vain. On the contrary. In matches that were balanced to say the least, the possibility of playing within friendly walls and with two results out of three available literally made the difference. The only exception to the rule occurred at Gubbio where Bernardotto and his teammates found themselves eliminated by Cernigoi’s flash that arrived five minutes from the end.
A real mockery for the former Avellino coach, Piero Braglia, who took it really badly and ended up being disqualified for one match for protesting aggressively towards assistant referee no. 1 following the scoring of an opponent’s goal. Caught up in the heat, but also by the disappointment of having been eliminated by a Rimini team on whom he had given a poker just ten days ago, the Tuscan coach practically forgot that the use of VAR was also introduced last Tuesday.
Already the protagonist of the playoff final, paradoxically lost amidst the refereeing controversies CataniaThe Rimini will cross their path next Saturday at the Curi in Perugia against the Griffins who will enter the field as fourth and seeded in Group B. For the Umbrians, in light of the trend of the first round, there are clearly the underdogs that must be extended for the same group at Pescara, called to defend the best position against Juventus Under 23 in the only match that will be live on Raisport at 9pm.
In group A, however, Triestina and Atalanta Under 23, again at 8.30pm like the others, will be able to take advantage of the same bonus by hosting Giana Erminio and Legnago Salus respectively. Returning to the Wolves grouping, however, the newly entered Casertana will receive the Audace Cerignola while Capuano’s Taranto, in a truly exciting match, will try again to raise its Maginot line against Longo’s Picerno who could once again do without the top scorer Jacopo Murano, in the box due to injury against Crotone. Six more matches, therefore, which from Saturday evening will bring the number of eliminated clubs to 15 out of a total of 28 competitors. For the six survivors, as scheduled, there won’t even be time to catch their breath because on Sunday, via videoconference, they will know the opponent they will face in the first national round with the entry of Vicenza, Carrarese, Benevento and Catania.
Also in that location, a scenario that will be repeated on May 19th Avellino, Torres And Padua, the teams that will be involved in the double match, but with the bonus of the double result always to the advantage of the best classified, will be able to make a request to the League to give the right of first refusal for tickets to regular season season ticket holders. This eventuality will clearly concern above all squares with passionate fans such as that of Taranto which, on the first day but the data will also be confirmed on Saturday, recorded almost 9 thousand attendances at Iacovone, followed by 3,608 spectators in Pescara-Pontedera and 2,600 in Cerignola -Giugliano.
Numbers and averages far superior to those of the regular season which confirmed the success of the playoff formula but also the lack of public appeal towards B teams such as Juve Next Generation (162 spectators against Arezzo) and Atalanta Under 23 (480 against Trento).
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