by Simone Cioni
EMPOLI
Unfortunately, in the postponement of the Via del Mare in Lecce on Monday, what the Italian team feared materialized. With the success, in fact, Udinese has overtaken by one point Empoli and Frosinone who at this moment would be playing for salvation in the play-off (remember that unlike last year’s match between Spezia and Verona, this season is played with matches of round trip). Without taking anything away from the Friulians, a result also resulting from the lack of contemporaneity regarding the challenges of the pretenders to salvation. After the results of the weekend, in fact, Lecce was already safe before the kick-off and it is physiological that they may have taken to the field with less competitive ardor than Cannavaro’s team, forced instead to win to build their stay in the category .
Thus, with 180 minutes to go the new ranking of the 5 teams still fighting not to be relegated is as follows (two of these will have to say goodbye to Serie A): Verona 34, Udinese and Cagliari 33, Frosinone and Empoli 32, Sassuolo 29. Inevitable therefore, the direct clash next Sunday at 3pm at the Bluenergy Stadium against Udinese will take on particular importance for Nicola’s team. Winning it wouldn’t close the game, but it would put Cambiaghi and his teammates in a position of undoubted advantage. Going up to 35, in fact, at that point it might be enough not to lose the last home match against Roma to be able to celebrate. A draw against the Giallorossi, in fact, would allow the Azzurri to certainly leave Sassuolo behind (even if they scored 6 points against Cagliari and Lazio the Emilians would reach 35) and a match between Udinese and Frosinone who will compete at the home of the Ciociari in the last round . By winning in Udine, at worst Empoli would find themselves having to play in the play-off against Frosinone. Bringing home the three points on Sunday, therefore, would be really important for Nicola’s band, but it will be equally fundamental not to lose. If the Azzurri were to return from Udine with the same 32 points with which they arrived there, even a possible victory on the last day against Roma might not be enough. In this case, salvation would depend on the negative results of the opponents: either Sassuolo’s failure to win plus just one point in 2 matches for Cagliari or Frosinone, or if Ballardini’s neo-greens win both their matches it would be necessary for both Cagliari and Frosinone not to win none of the last 2 games.
In short, many factors would come into play with an aspect of no small importance to consider: if Udinese beat Empoli in the last round they would go to the Frosinone pitch with the arithmetic salvation in their pocket, without therefore necessarily having to take to the field with the ‘knife between your teeth’. It’s a different story if Luperto and his associates will at least manage to leave the Bluenergy Stadium unscathed. Arriving at the last 90 minutes with 33 points, in fact, if they beat Roma at the Castellani-Computer Gross Arena, Empoli would be mathematically safe given that in addition to Sassuolo they would also have one of Frosinone and Udinese behind them. Even a draw with De Rossi’s team could be enough, although in this case several favorable combinations in the results from other fields would once again be necessary.
