Ducal derby at the Tullo Massera in Parma between Junior and Piacenza. Double match (Sunday at 11 and 15) with a good portion of safety at stake in terms of the standings. The two contenders are only slightly distant with the red and whites third and the Parma team fifth on equal points with Brescia, all for a standings partly distorted by the postponements of the last few weeks due to bad weather. In practice only the last two, Ares and Porta Mortara who will have a thrilling direct clash on Sunday, have been able to honor the calendar, while all the others, some more than others, will be struggling with recoveries. Piacenza is actually the team with the greatest delay, given the three postponements suffered (game 2 in Avigliana and the double home match with Brescia).
In essence, in the last four weeks, between breaks and storms, Piacenza has played a paltry three games and in order not to falter in the derby it will be important to immediately regain feeling with the pitch and the competitive spirit. Given that, at least until its mathematical achievement, the seasonal objective remains safety, in Parma the stakes are represented by important points to shore up a third place that has been more than satisfactory so far even if far from the two queens of the group Avigliana and Sala Baganza. In light of the previous considerations, looking up is not a good idea because vertigo could play bad tricks. Better to live day by day trying to reach the minimum planned goals as soon as possible and in this sense the derby with Junior could say a lot. The recent postponements have at least helped the progressive emptying of the infirmary and finally Andrea D’Auria will be able to make his lineup choices without too many impediments.
THE OTHER MATCHES: Porta Mortara Novara-Ares Milan, Brescia-Avigliana Rebels (in Lodi) and Sala Baganza-Altopiano Seveso.
CLASSIFICATION: Avigliana Rebels 875 (16-14-2), Sala Baganza 824 (17-14-3), Piacenza 533 (15-8-7), Altopiano Seveso 500 (16-8-8), Brescia and Junior Parma 438 (16-7-9), Ares Milano 278 (18-5-13), Porta Mortara Novara 167 (18-3-15).
YOUTH: at Montesissa on Saturday a double match (starting at 3.30 pm) for minibasketball against Oltretorrente while on Sunday (10.30 am) the U14 hosts Sala Baganza.
