Foggia-Lecco is a match valid for the first leg of the Serie C playoff final and is played on Tuesday at 21:30: TV, formations, predictions.
The Serie B 2023-24 is almost complete: only one place remains to be awarded. Competing for it will be Foggia and Lecco, the only two teams to have ‘survived’ the Serie C playoff lottery, a sort of mini-league that began exactly one month ago.
Two outsiders, who in their path were able to impose themselves, against all odds, on decidedly better-ranked opponents, who had done better in the regular season, placing higher than them in the rankings of their respective groups. This final is therefore a reward for both of them, for not giving up in the most difficult moments, when elimination seemed just a step away. The Satanelli’s journey, led by an experienced coach such as Delio Rossi – who returned to coaching in March after a three-year inactivity – who had been dreaming of taking such a revenge for years, was surreal. Foggia were practically a foot and a half off in the second round, having lost the first leg of their derby against Audace Cerignola 4-1. But a resounding comeback in the return leg (3-0), with the decisive goal scored at the last gasp, allowed the Rossoneri to qualify thanks to the better placement. Then the Pugliese got the better of the heavily favoured Crotone (1-0 and 2-2) and in the semi-finals they got the better of former great Zeman’s Pescara, who were beaten on penalties after twice cancelling out a disadvantage in the final minutes.
How many absences in Lecco
A sensational ride also for Luciano Foschi’s Blucelesti, who now dream of bringing the Larian club back into the cadetteria after half a century.
I tifosi del Lecco
Lecco seemed to have no chance against two battleships, Pordenone and Cesena, eliminated even after losing the first match in front of their own public. The away victories were decisive: it was almost impossible to foresee the one obtained last Thursday in an almost sold-out ‘Manuzzi’ against the Romagnoli, who were first punished by a Buso goal and then mocked on penalties. The final will be played on a return leg and, as in the semi-finals, the position in the standings no longer counts: in the event of a points draw after 180 minutes there will be extra time and possibly penalties. Rossi has to do without the disqualified Vacca, an absence that adds to those of Nobile, Beretta and Odjer, but recovers Kontek and Di Noia. There are also numerous defections for Foschi: the Lecco coach will not be able to count on Lakti, Galli, Battistini, Ilari, Enrici and the disqualified Giudici.
The prediction
The 12,000 at the “Zaccheria” will be pushing Foggia, but Lecco in these playoffs have shown that they know how to cope, coming out with courage and personality, even in hostile environments. An open contest is therefore looming, with at least one goal on each side: a sign that has characterised no less than five out of the seven matches played by Foggia in the long postseason. The Rossoneri should be able to avoid defeat at the very least.
Foggia-Lecco’s likely line-up
- FOGGIA (3-5-2): Dalmasso; Leo, Kontek, Rizzo; Bjarkason, Frigerio, Petermann, Schenetti, Costa; Peralta, Ogunseye.
- LECCO (3-5-2): Melgrati; Celjak, Bianconi, Lepore; Martorelli, Girelli, Ardizzone, Zuccon, Zambataro; Buso, Pinzauti.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1