Lorenzo Melchiori (right) is a key player at Mestre. © TOMMASO SCABELLO

Attention FCO, this Bozen player wants three points with Mestre

Lorenzo Melchiori has played 234 matches in Serie D. On Sunday, the Bolzano native returns to South Tyrol with Mestre and faces FC Obermais on the Lahn River.

September 12, 2025

From: cst

From his youth years at FC Südtirol, through Dro, Mezzocorona, Alto Vincentino, and Breno, to his current stint at Mestre, Lorenzo Melchiori has seen a lot in his football career – yet remains a relatively unknown figure in South Tyrol.

The 29-year-old from Bolzano has played for top Serie D clubs in recent years, making a total of 234 appearances in Italy's fourth division. Calling the defensive midfielder, who also plays as a center-back for Mestre, a Serie D veteran is certainly not a bad idea. On Sunday (4 p.m.), Melchiori returns to South Tyrol and aims to pick up three points with Mestre in Maia Alta: "It's always nice to come home. I grew up in Bolzano, but I'll approach the game with the same seriousness as everyone else."

Defensive player with a nose for goal

Melchiori has been playing in Serie D for over ten years. In 2015, he made his first appearances at the age of 18 – back then still on loan from FCS. The following year, he made two appearances for FC Südtirol in Serie C. These were the last professional appearances for Melchiori, who has always been a key player for all his teams in Serie D.

Always good for a goal: Lorenzo Melchiori scored ten goals in his best year.

At 29, he is currently at the peak of his powers and in the prime of his career. Will he be able to make the jump to Serie C with the Venetians? "We haven't set a specific goal for the season; instead, we're always trying to give our best. We'll see what happens in the end," says Melchiori. However, the Bolzano native is also aware that Mestre is one of the league's top teams. A return to Serie C would be welcome on the Venetian lagoon. He is currently in demand as a central defender in Mestre. In the past, Melchiori has proven his strengths primarily as a box-to-box player in midfield: for Breno, he scored an impressive 121 goals in 31 games.

"Obermais brings great enthusiasm. We have to deal with that." Lorenzo Melchiori before his "home game" in South Tyrol

Melchiori has never played against FC Obermais in his career. So what does the South Tyrolean know about his upcoming opponent? "They're a newly promoted team with great enthusiasm. We have to deal with that. We want to approach the match with the right attitude and implement our ideas," Melchiori said.