And a Lecce Update
Goal.com - Serie A Preview: Lecce-Catania
Lecce will be fighting for their Serie A lives when they host Walter Zenga’s Catania on Sunday.
24 Apr 2009
Kick-Off: Sunday, April 26, 15:00 CET, Stadio Via Del Mare, Lecce
Salentini Striving For Survival
Following another impressive fight-back last weekend against Roma, Lecce were once again left empty-handed as they succumbed to defeat following a very dubious second half penalty. Coach Gigi De Canio remained philosophical in defeat despite commenting on how referee Mazzoleni laughed at his player’s protests following Julio Baptista’s tumble in the box. Last week’s disappointment reflected the Giallorossi’s season so far, when much hard work and determination has rewarded little to a side clearly lacking in quality.
With the season reaching its climax, time is fast running out for the Salentini to perform a great escape. De Canio’s men are currently three points from the safety zone but with the relegation dogfight taking shape, it now looks like only one side from the bottom four will survive the drop. The former QPR boss needs to start getting results, if Lecce are to push on and emerge as the side who escaped to victory.
With the arrival of a Catania side fresh from sealing their own fate after reaching forty points, the Salentini have the opportunity to take advantage of a potential ‘biscotto’, with Zenga’s men having little else to play for. Should De Canio’s men seal a victory on Sunday, the road to survival could be ever closer.
Catania Chasing Historic Finish
Following their impressive 2-0 victory over Sampdoria last Sunday, the Catania faithful had much to celebrate as they watched their side reach the milestone forty points mark. With Walter Zenga lauding his side’s spirit throughout the course of the season the Etnei have sealed almost certain Serie A survival with six rounds still left to play. Given Catania were embroiled in a relegation dogfight only last term, the future signs look promising for Zenga and his young side.
If Catania can hold onto Zenga over the summer, the Rossazzurri could well push to greater things next season. With rumours of a mass switch between benches involving a number of coaches this summer, club patron Antonino Pulvirenti will do well to make sure the former Inter goalkeeper keeps his feet firmly on Sicilian soil.
As Catania prepare to approach the run-in with little more than pride left to play for, it will be interesting to see how Zenga’s men react in the final six rounds. Should they push on for more points, they could well achieve a top ten finish. Such a feat would provide a remarkable conclusion, for a side who have never finished higher than eighth in the top flight.
FORM GUIDE
Lecce
19 April: Roma 3-2 Lecce
11 April: Lecce 1-3 Sampdoria
5 April: Milan 2-0 Lecce
22 March: Lecce 2-2 Atalanta
15 March: Palermo 5-2 Lecce
Catania
19 April: Catania 2-0 Sampdoria
11 April: Torino 2-1 Catania
5 April: Cagliari 1-0 Catania
22 March: Catania 1-0 Lazio
15 March: Udinese 1-1 Catania
TEAM NEWS
Lecce
Gigi De Canio will have to make do without Luca Ariatti after the influential midfielder saw red in last weeks defeat to Roma. Daniele Cacia and Fabio Caserta are also set to miss out through injury.
Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Benussi; Polenghi, Fabiano, Esposito, Giuliatto; Giacomazzi, Zanchetta, Vives, Munari; Castillo, Tiribocchi
Catania
Walter Zenga has opted to give U21 Czech international Tomas Kosicky his Serie A debut, given Albano Bizzarri’s immanent departure in the summer. Elefanti top scorer Giuseppe Mascara is suspended, whilst Ciro Capuano and Pablo Ledesma are both injured.
Probable Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Kosicky; Potenza, Silvestre, Stovini, Llama; Carboni; Martinez, Baiocco, Biaganti, Tedesco; Morimoto
PLAYERS TO WATCH
After failing to score in last Sunday’s defeat to Roma, Simone Tiribocchi will be hoping he has something to show for his efforts this week as his side desperately search for a victory. The debutant between the Catania sticks will have his work cut out if he is to keep the ‘TIR of Fiumicino’ quiet for another seven days.
Matías Silvestre has been somewhat of an unsung hero for Catania this term. After his summer loan move from Boca Juniors, he has played every minute of the Rossazzurri’s campaign so far, bar one game in which he missed out through suspension. Walter Zenga will be relying on him to keep the Lecce frontline quiet, as his side look to push on into the top ten.
PREDICTION
With Zenga’s side almost certainly securing their Serie A status last Sunday when they reached the milestone of 40 points, it is likely that this weekend they may travel to the peninsula a little less focussed than normal. With this is mind, I think a hungry Lecce side will just oust the Elefanti and secure a vital three points to aid their survival mission.
Lecce 2-1 Catania
Stefano Federici, Goal.com
www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/04/24/1226835/serie-a-preview-lecce-catania