FC Südtirol: 180 minutes decide on an entire season

“For me, the draw against Carrarese means one point gained and definitely not two lost, because it allows us to continue to fight for fifth place and thus for playoff participation. There are still two very difficult games left, but anything is possible. The playoffs are a dream goal, but sometimes dreams come true. So why shouldn’t we believe in it too?” With these clear words, managing director Dietmar Pfeifer sets the course. In the upcoming final 180 minutes of the championship, the team should be carried forward by the will to win, “but also by the enthusiasm of the audience. On Sunday I would like to see the stadium fully occupied because it is a top game that we should all enjoy together,” said Pfeifer.

For coach Stroppa and his team, this is the third game in just one week and the second home game in a row. Neither the defeat in La Spezia nor the draw against Carrarese took away FC Südtirol's chances of reaching the playoffs. With two wins, the FCS can move up to fifth place in the table on its own. The gap is currently three points, but the last and probably decisive game will be played on the Sunday after next against current fifth-placed Cremonese. The excitement cannot be surpassed, because with a win against Trapani on Sunday and a win away in Cremona, the FCS could mathematically no longer be denied participation in the play-offs.

The FCS has been unbeaten at home for three months However, a win against Trapani is a difficult mission for the White-Reds, because the opponent is not easy to beat, although they have given way in recent games, such as Wednesday's defeat in Latina (0-3) and only one win in the last five games. FC Südtirol is relying on the home advantage in the Drusus Stadium, where they have been unbeaten since January 29th, i.e. for three months.

Compared to Wednesday's game, coach Stroppa will make some changes to the lineup. Alessio Grea will most likely replace the suspended Simone Iacoponi at right-back, while Hannes Kiem, Pietro Cascone and Massimiliano Tagliani will fight for the two starting positions in central defense. Francesco Uliano is scheduled to return in midfield, flanked by either Alessandro Campo or Michael Bacher. The only area where no changes are planned is in attack, where the Schenetti-Giannetti-Firiegeller trio is likely to be confirmed.

Trapani is putting direct promotion at risk

The opponent from Sicily, the first in the table, Trapani, has let the pursuer Spezia come dangerously close to them and is now only two points ahead. In the last five games, Trapani was only able to gain five points and lost an away game for the first time in the second half of the season on Sunday in Latina. The Sicilians' top scorer with 13 goals is Giuseppe Madonia, followed by Dario Barraco and the 28-year-old German-Italian Salvatore Gambino, who gained Bundesliga experience at Borussia Dortmund. Another top player is the now 36-year-old Giacomo Tedesco, who played nine championships in Serie A with Salernitana, Napoli, Reggina, Catania and Bologna, as well as 11 seasons in Serie B with Palermo, Salernitana, Cosenza and Reggina. Coach Boscaglia is missing the suspended Barraco and Filippi for the game in Bolzano.

The expected lineups: FC South Tyrol (4-3-3): Jacobucci; Grea, Tagliani (Cascone), Kiem, Legittimo; Furlan, Uliano, Bacher (Campo); Schenetti, Giannetti, Filehner. On the bench: Miskiewicz, Cascone (Tagliani), Calliari, Albanese, Campo (Bacher), Fink, Chiavarini. Coach: Giovanni Stroppa

Trapani (4-4-2): Castelli; Lo Bue, Pagliarulo, Priola, Sabatino; Caccetta, Cianni, Tedesco, Madonia; Abate, Gambino. On the substitutes' bench: Pozzato, Lo Monaco, Mastrolilli, Daì, Ficarrotta, Cavallaro, Pirrone. Coach: Roberto Boscaglia

Referee: Michael Fabbri from Ravenna

The 33th matchday at a glance (Sunday, 15 p.m.) FC South Tyrol - Trapani Barletta – Carrarese Bassano – Piacenza FeralpiSalò – Frosinone Latina-Cremonese Pergocrema – Andria Portogruaro – Prato Siracusa-Lanciano Triestina - Spezia

The table of the 1st Division, Group B: 1. Trapani 58 points 2. Spezia 56 3. Virtus Lanciano 54 4. Syracuse 52** 5. Cremonese 47*** 6. Barletta 44* 7. FC South Tyrol 44 8. Carrarese 42 9. Frosinone 42 10. Portogruaro 41 11. Pergocrema 39** 12. Andria Bat. 35 13. Feralpisalò 35 14. Triestina 35 15. Latina 34 16. Piacenza 32**** 17. Prato 31 18. Bassano Virtus 30

* -1 penalty point ** -5 penalty points *** -6 penalty points **** -9 penalty points

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FC Südtirol: 180 minutes decide on an entire season

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