Benevento
Being favored isn’t always beneficial. Benevento knows something about this in its decades of participation in the play offs. He played many with that uncomfortable label, but he won twice when the experts indicated others for the final victory. In short, leaving with the headlights off is not always a bad thing. In 2016/17 Baroni’s team was initially pointed out as one of those who would play to save themselves, then after winning the play offs someone started to think about it, it being understood that Marino’s Frosinone was the absolute favorite of the post season. Instead…
So also in 98/99 in the play off which allowed the Giallorossi to be promoted to C1. In the final in Lecce, Messina were super favourites, if only for the fact that they could count on two results out of three (even a draw would have promoted them). And instead…
If you read the predictions of the experts regarding the C play-offs this season, you will almost always find the same names: Padova and Avellino ahead of everyone, then Vicenza. Many forget about Torres, who also came second, someone else from time to time also includes Benevento and Carrarese. It doesn’t escape anyone’s notice that Taranto was second on the field.
Antonio Donnarumma, goalkeeper of Padova, brother of the national team Gigio, doesn’t seem to have any doubts: “In Padova there is a great group and there is enthusiasm and desire to start well”. On the opponents to fear: “There are some favourites, but what the difference is the group, its strength leads you to have great results, look at Lecco last year. Besides us, however, I could say Taranto, Vicenza and Triestina”.
Franco Cotugno, goalkeeper of Benevento in the eighties and coach of the Giallorossi goalkeepers in the Cannavaro management makes these predictions: “I always think of some battleships like Padova, Benevento and Avellino, teams that started out with important ambitions. Then there are high-level teams such as Pescara, Perugia and Taranto, plus possible outsiders. Let’s not overlook a squad like Catania that hasn’t managed to give what it can give, but in games like this and important games it can give that little bit extra to make excellent playoffs. Then Catania is Catania, we are talking about places that have been in Serie A for a long time with important players. This C has the flavor of Serie B and the playoffs will be exciting for those who love Serie C football. Many teams that win Serie C with few reinforcements also manage to win Serie B like Lecce and Frosinone”.
After the salvation achieved on the AlbinoLeffe bench and the consequent confirmation for next season, mister John Lopez has his say on this complicated post season: “Vicenza was the strongest, I’ve always said that. It lost points at the start but then when it settled down it showed it had no rivals and in the playoffs it is the team to beat.” But which players will be fundamental in the playoffs? “Usually the attackers who score goals but the winning card for me it will be the solidity as a team. There is no player who alone can make the difference even if Vicenza has some strong ones, you could name Cuomo, Golemic, Ferrari, but the list is long”. In closing, a thought for the opponents who will be able to give Vicenza a run for their money: “Avellino and Benevento, equally well equipped and also with a warm audience, but I add Padova who are strong, the numbers say so, in the end they finished ahead”.
Simone Zanon, Carrarese full-back, votes for himself: “We expected third place, also because at the beginning of the season we were aiming for something more, and even now the objective has not changed: we want Serie B, and we aim to win the playoffs. Formidable opponents? If I had to name names, I would say that Avellino, Padua, Vicenza and Triestina surprised me a lot.”
