The cockerels will, however, arrive at the decisive clash at least with the reserve light finally turned off. Yes, because Bari did everything they could to complicate their lives in this championship, bordering on a doctorate “cum laude” in self-sabotage in the last third of the season. Here, therefore, the victory arrived at the photo finish against the swallows is a sign of hope to be grasped, and to hold on to for the post season. Another 180 minutes will decide the fate of Giampaolo’s team and his staff, led by director Ciro Polito; after the defeat in Cosenza, it almost seemed like a mirage.
First, some good luck finally in your favor. Sibilli makes eleven in the championship and finds the net again after a lifetime, with a missed cross that deceives the guest goalkeeper Lazzeroni, disoriented by Nasti’s failure to intervene. In short, the classic gollonzo which, however, on other occasions would not have gone in, and which now must be understood as a cabalistic signal of destiny; in this situation, with the water at his throat, he doesn’t throw anything away. It’s also okay to cling to religion, as Sibilli himself did, appearing at the press conference with the saints of the patron saint Nicola kept in his socks during the match. The saint of Myra, from up there, saw fit to expand the number of his miracles, just two days after the celebration of the patronal feast.
Among the happy notes should also be placed Di Cesare, author of the second goal with the flair of a thoroughbred bomber, but ultimately the captain (at 41 years of age) was one of the very few certainties of an unfortunate season, one of those that risk sending you to the mental hospital.
By pure paradox, one of many, the victory over Brescia also shows with crystal clarity many of Bari’s shortcomings in the championship. If we hadn’t waited for the last in or out of the championship to see an aggressive attitude right from the start of the match, perhaps today the entire Bari square would have been able to breathe the sigh of relief they had hoped for in achieving salvation. And, instead, there will still be suffering. But it is from the performance of the midfield that the greatest regrets come. If it is right to ask Acampora why he waited until the last two championship matches to demonstrate that he was a more than valid element, it is equally true that Maiello’s capital performance alongside Benali reiterates how serious and unfortunate the loss of the “professor” was. for two thirds of the season. A providential recovery in view of the playouts; hoping it continues to make a difference.
And then there is the sign of relaxation offered by the curve to the team, called to receive the applause of encouragement at the end of the match after 90′ of incessant cheering, and also of “bombing” with firecrackers and explosives fired from the stands (at face of an extraordinary security plan that is leaking from all sides). The almost 22 thousand at San Nicola, for a match that could also have coincided with an unparalleled sporting drama, are yet another confirmation of how the red and white support is the only true immobile capital of the football city and its club.
In short, the playout won’t be much, but it’s already something; it wasn’t obvious to even hope for it just a week ago. Dragged by Sibilli and Di Cesare, Bari earns a final appeal to give the city the chance to continue to “brag” in Serie B, as recklessly suggested by president Luigi De Laurentiis. We will need to score at least one more goal than Ternana in 180 minutes; difficult task for Bari, schizophrenic and afraid of this championship, but who found within themselves the strength to give themselves the final chance. Will it be enough? An answer will begin to emerge from next Thursday.
