Thrilling last day of Serie B for Bari, awaiting the very delicate home match against Brescia scheduled for Friday 10 May at 8.30pm at San Nicola.
To still hope for salvation, no longer achievable directly but only through the play-outs, the red and whites have only one result available in the last act of the regular season against the Rondinelle: victory. Otherwise, their fate will be linked to the result of Ascoli, a team that has 38 points like the Galletti: any worse result than that of the Marches would condemn the team coached by Federico Giampaolo to relegation.
Of all the teams that will try to avoid the descent into Serie C, Bari has the most difficult challenge, considering that Brescia, already in the play-offs, will come to San Nicola to try to secure sixth place. In the other two fields that the red and whites are interested in, however, Ascoli will host Pisa, which has been cut off from the fight to get back into the top eight, and Ternana will go to the already relegated FeralpiSalò field. Spezia, however, will host Venezia who are still in the running for direct promotion.
Bari, the scenarios of the last day of Serie B: play-out or direct relegation to Serie C
Tension is high in the red and white home and once again no one spoke before the match. The air is heavy not only around the team, but also towards the club: the level of attention from the police has risen further after the attack on Ciro Polito in the post of Cittadella-Bari and the president Luigi De Laurentiis will be under guard. Despite the discouragement and disbelief of the environment at the direction the season has taken, there will be at least 14 thousand Bari fans at the stadium thanks to the 5 thousand tickets sold and the almost 9 thousand season ticket holders.
The Adriatic bridge lights up in red: in Bari the ultras torchlight for Saint Nicholas
How Bari arrives
For the decisive match to avoid direct relegation, Federico Giampaolo will be able to count on both Di Cesare and Maita, both of whom left early during the Cittadella match. Bellomo will also be available again after serving a two-match suspension. Out Edjouma and Diaw. Trust in Pissardo between the posts, the use of Pucino, Di Cesare, Vicari and Ricci is likely in defence. In midfield everything will depend on Maita: if he is in the match he will be deployed alongside Benali and Lulic, otherwise Acampora could be deployed in his place, who ideally should be placed behind Sibilli and Nasti (in which case Sibilli would act as an attacking midfielder with another attacking partner for Nasti).
How Brescia arrives
Rolando Maran will not have Borrelli at his disposal and will have to carefully evaluate whether to use the numerous players who have been suspended (Cistana, Jallow, Papetti, Paghera) at the risk of losing them for the first leg of the play-offs. The only one who should be risked is Papetti, who could be joined by Bisoli in a further back position, with Dickmann and Huard as full-backs. In midfield van de Looi as director flanked by Bertagnoli and Besaggio, then Galazzi and Bjarnason behind the lone striker Bianchi.
Bari-Brescia: probable lineups
BARI (4-2-3-1): Pissardo; Pucino, Di Cesare, Vicari, Ricci; Maita, Benali, Lulic; Acampora; Sibilli, Nasti. All. F. Giampaolo
BRESCIA (4-2-3-1): Lezzerini; Dickmann, Bisoli, Papetti, Huard; Bertagnoli, van de Looi, Besaggio; Galazzi, Bjarnason; Whites. All. Maran
Referee: Colombo from Como
Assistants: Raspollini – Barone
IV: Marotta
VAR: Wonderful
AVAR: Longo S.
Bari-Brescia: the precedents
In 86 official precedents between Bari and Brescia, the highest number of victories belongs to the red and whites who boast 31 successes against the 21 of the Rondinelle, while 34 matches ended in a draw. In 42 matches at Bari’s home ground, 21 red and white successes, 14 draws and 7 victories for Brescia.
In this championship, Bari beat Brescia away, winning 1-2 at Rigamonti on 29 October 2023. It was the Lombards who took the lead in the 11th minute with a penalty from Moncini, Diaw equalized in the 58th minute and Vicari scored in the 76th minute the victory net.
The last time the two teams faced each other at San Nicola dates back to the 2022-2023 season. It was October 1, 2022, it was the 7th matchday and Bari won 6-2 (goals from Folorunsho, Bellomo, Antenucci, Scheidler and a brace from Cheddira, goals from Olzer and Moreo for the guests).
Bari-Brescia: where to watch it on TV and in streaming
Bari-Brescia of the 38th matchday of Serie B will be broadcast on TV on Sky Sport (channel 257) and in streaming by Dazn and Now.
