BARI – PISA | Sunday 3pm
Bari appear to have run out of the initial momentum which had allowed them to explore the upper reaches of the table from the outset. Michele Mignani’s Biancorossi are fifth on 22 points, right in the middle of the playoff zone, but their lack of victories is worrying. The last success of the Apulian team dates back to 8 October: since then, two defeats have come against Ascoli and Frosinone – in between also the elimination from the Coppa Italia through Parma – and four consecutive draws. The Galletti’s attack has been scoring for three days in a row and does not seem to be affected by the absence of Walid Cheddira, engaged with his Moroccan team in Qatar, but the three points are missing like crazy for Antenucci and his team-mates. Last Sunday the umpteenth deadlock in Como (1-1): on the lake shore Bari avoided defeat in the 90th minute thanks to a penalty converted by Botta.
It has definitely changed gear the Pisa, revitalized by the cure D’Angelo. The coach who last June touched the Serie A, blurred in the final playoff with Monza, was recalled after the unsuccessful experience of Maran. And with him on the bench, the Nerazzurri have started to run again: they haven’t lost since September and a further proof of strength came on Saturday with the 3-1 win against Ternana that caused Lucarelli’s exoneration.
Bari-Pisa: latest line-up news
Beruatto
In attack, Mignani will once again rely on the Antenucci-Scheidler pair, in the absence of Moroccan national Cheddira. The main change in Bari concerns the backline, where this time Di Cesare will start on 1′ and Dorval will be confirmed in place of the injured Ricci. All in all, clear ideas for coach D’Angelo, who will prefer Hermansson and Calabresi in defence to Rus and Esteves respectively.
The prediction
Reduced from nine consecutive useful results, Pisa should be able to avoid defeat even in Bari, despite the away performance is not impeccable. Both sides are likely to score, with the Pugliese looking for their second home win.
Bari v Pisa matchday squad
- BARI (4-3-1-2): Caprile; Di Cesare, Vicari, Pucino, Dorval; Maita, Maiello, Folorunsho; Botta; Scheidler, Antenucci.
- PISA (4-3-2-1): Livieri; Calabresi, Hermansson, Barba, Beruatto; Touré, Nagy, Marin; Tramoni, Morutan; Torregrossa.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
