FC Südtirol: Trip Lecce again and move into the playoffs

“We know that Lecce travels to Bolzano highly motivated and has to win to stay on the heels of leaders Trapani. But my team also has enough motivation to want to win the match. We are doing everything we can to maintain third place and extend our home series. “It’s going to be a big game and we’re ready for it,” coach Stefano Vecchi encourages his team with a view to the top game.

The FCS, currently in third place in the table, won last Sunday against Virtus Entella 3-0 and with this victory took a big step towards participation in the playoffs. But it certainly won't be a walk in the park, because the opponents from Salento are in top form and absolutely have to win the match in Bolzano and hope for a possible slip-up by Trapani. Lecce hasn't lost in five games and hasn't conceded a goal in four wins and one draw.

However, Furlan & Co. celebrated 10 wins and four draws in the Drusus Stadium. This makes them the only team in the entire third division that is still unbeaten at home. This series has been running since January 29, 2012.

Three top performers are missing

Coach Stefano Vecchi has to do without three important players against Lecce. Left-back Marco Martin and winger Alessandro Campo are suspended, Mame Thiam is injured. In defense, Bassoli will take Martin's place and captain Hannes Kiem will move into central defense. Either Branca or Bertoni will play in midfield with Uliano and Furlan, while Maritato Testardi is preferred up front. On the flanks, Fink and Pasi should provide the necessary crosses. The Rittner Fink would reach the 100 game mark in the White Reds' uniform when he played on Sunday. After the Lecce game, FCS hosts Portogruaro and Tritium in the last home game.

Lecce “must” win

Until a year ago, Lecce played in Italy's highest league, Serie A. That's why it's no surprise that the yellow-reds are contesting the championship with a star ensemble. The goalkeeper Benassi, the defenders Diniz, Martinez, Di Maio as well as the midfielder and captain Giacomazzi and the offensive players Jeda, Pià, Chevanton and Bogliacino are certainly worth mentioning. Despite all this quality, Lecce is “only” in second place, two points behind leader Trapani. All this 2 minutes before the end of the championship and that is why the southern Italians have to win on Sunday in order to achieve their goal of promotion. Lecce is in impressive form and this is proven by the last five games, in which 270 points (four wins and one draw) were taken. What's more, Benassi remained undefeated in these games. Lecce got 13 of the 20 points away from home. Five wins, five draws and four defeats. The claps came in Lumezzane (57:2), Feralpisalò (1:4) and Carpi (0:1) in the first half of the season and San Marino (0:3) in the second half of the season. With 1 goals scored, Lecce has the second best attack in the league. Only the Trapani players have scored more often. The team's top scorer is the Uruguayan Bogliacino with 51 goals, followed by Foti with 9 and Giacomazzi and Jeda with 8 goals.

Coach Antonio Toma, who succeeded Lerda on January 22nd, can rely on almost all of the players in his squad. Only striker Inacio Piá is injured; he had to be substituted in the last home game due to a muscle injury.

The first leg was played on December 9th in Lecce and ended with a 1-0 surprise win for the South Tyroleans. Pasi scored with a wonderful long-range shot five minutes before the end.

This is how they will play:

FC South Tyrol (4-3-3): Marcone; Iacoponi, Cappelletti, Kiem, Bassoli; Furlan, Uliano, Branca (Bertoni); Fink, Maritato, Pasi. On the substitutes' bench: Grandi, Tagliani, Panzeri, Bertoni (Branca), Candido, Turchetta, Testardi. Coach: Stefano Vecchi

US Lecce (4-2-4): Benassi; Diniz, Martinez, Di Maio, Fatic; De Rose, Giacomazzi; Memushaj, Jeda, Bogliacino, Falco. On the bench: Petrachi (Bleve), Vanin, Zappacosta (Ferrario), Esposito, Chiricò, Pià (Chevanton), Foti. Coach: Antonio Toma

Referee: Diego Bruno di Torino (Borzomi-Sgheiz)

1st Division Lega Pro (Group A) – 32th matchday – Sunday March 28.04.2013, 15.00 (XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.)

Albino leff - Trapani Carpi-Tritium Cremonese - Portogruaro FeralpiSalò – San Marino Lumezzane - Treviso Reggiana - Pavia FC Südtirol – Lecce (live on Rai Sport 1) Virtus Entella - Como Play free: Cuneo

The table: 1. Trapani 59 points 2. Lecce 57 3. FC South Tyrol 49 4. Carpi 47 5. Virtus Entella 46 (+1 game) 6. AlbinoLeffe 43 ** 7. Cremonese 42* 8. San Marino 42 9. Feralpisalò 39 10. Pavia 37 (+1 game) 11. Lumezzane 36 12. Cuneo 34 (+1 game) 13. Como 32* 14. Portogruaro 30* 15. Reggiana 28 16. Tritium 18 17. Treviso 14*

*-1 penalty point **-6 penalty points

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FC Südtirol: Trip Lecce again and move into the playoffs

On the third-to-last matchday of the 1st division, FC Südtirol will welcome second-placed Lecce in the Drusus Stadium on Sunday at 15 p.m. The top game will be broadcast live on television on Rai Sport 1.

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