The weekend that sees the official restart of the main Italian leagues also features Serie B. As usual, the first round of matches is spread over four days. It kicks off today, Friday 22 August, with the early match between Pescara and Cesena and concludes with the late match on Monday between Sampdoria and Modena. In this post, we will analyze some of the matches scheduled for the weekend.
Pescara is one of the newly promoted teams: back in Serie B after four years away thanks to victory in the Serie C playoffs, the Delfino have turned to a coach who did very well at Catanzaro, Vincenzo Vivarini, who is also a native of Abruzzo but is coming off a disappointing experience at Frosinone (where he was sacked after just a few months last year). He will need time to implement his ideas and get the project off the ground, but the enthusiasm for returning to Serie B could be a factor in the match against Cesena, which promises to be very evenly balanced. The Romagna-based club has confirmed Michele Mignani as coach with the aim of reaching the playoffs, which slipped away at the last moment last season. The big favorite for first place in Serie B is undoubtedly Palermo: the Rosanero are a real powerhouse and, to avoid another slip-up, they have hired an expert in promotion from Serie B to Serie A in Pippo Inzaghi, fresh from his success with Pisa. It will be important to start off on the right foot, and the three points should come against Davide Dionigi’s Reggiana in a “Barbera” stadium that will certainly make its voice heard. We are also putting our faith in Empoli: relegated from Serie A, the Tuscan side are starting afresh with a young team led by a coach who did very well with Juve Stabia, Guido Pagliuca. Adapting to the new division is never easy, and newly promoted Padova will try to take advantage of this: there should be no shortage of goals in a match in which the Azzurri remain favorites.
Predictions for the other matches
Catanzaro, after two consecutive playoff semifinals, is trying to raise the bar with Alberto Aquilani at the helm: the Calabrians, unbeaten in their four Serie B matches against Sudtirol, should make a positive start to the 2025-26 season.
One of the most intriguing matches is the derby between Spezia and Carrarese, two cities that are very close despite belonging to two different regions: last year, the Aquilotti won both the home and away games, scoring a total of eight goals, and this time too, there should be no shortage of excitement.
At least one goal per side in the all-Lombardy derby between Monza and Mantova: the Brianza side, back in Serie B after three years, will have to be wary of the Virgiliani, who managed to avoid relegation without too much trouble last year. Finally, it should be an even match between Venezia and Bari: the Apulians limited the damage in the Coppa Italia against Milan last Sunday (a 2-0 defeat at San Siro) and will try to make things difficult for the Lagunari, another team coming from Serie A.
Serie B: possible winners
Empoli (in Empoli-Padova, Saturday, August 23, 7:00 p.m.)
Palermo (in Palermo-Reggiana, Saturday, August 23, 9:00 p.m.)
Catanzaro or draw (in Catanzaro-Sudtirol, Sunday, August 24, 9:00 p.m.)
Matches with at least two goals in total
Empoli-Padova, Saturday, August 23, 7:00 p.m.
Spezia-Carrarese, Sunday, August 24, 7:00 p.m.
Serie B: matches with at least one goal per team
Monza-Mantova, Saturday, August 23, 9:00 p.m.
Matches with less than three goals in total
Pescara-Cesena, Friday, August 22, 8:30 p.m. Venice-Bari, Sunday, August 24, 7:00 p.m.
Odds comparison
Palermo’s victory is quoted at 1.75 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and at 1.77 on Snai. The “Under 2.5” bet in Venezia-Bari is quoted at 1.60 on Goldbet, Lottomatica, and Snai.
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