Christmas and New Year's are over for Raphael Kofler & Co. Now their full focus is on staying in Serie B. © FCS

That's why FCS's start to 2026 is so special

FC Südtirol will begin 2026 after a short winter break with a home game against Spezia. On Saturday (15 p.m.), the match against the Ligurian side is not just about valuable points.

05 January 2026

From: cst

FC Südtirol finished 2025 without a win. The Red and Whites have been waiting for a victory in Serie B since September 27th. They hope to finally achieve that win in their home game against Spezia – which is also the last match of the first half of the season.

At FCS, it must Simone David Watch. The Leifers player is suspended after receiving five yellow cards. Furthermore, [the following is unrelated and appears to be a separate, unrelated comment:] Jacopo Martini The player who suffered a metatarsal fracture in the last match without any contact from another player is out. The new signings should compensate for this. Marco Frigerio (Lecco) and Simone verdi (Como) are in the squad for the first time. Mamadou Coulibaly was dropped from the squad before Christmas.

New signing Verdi meets directly with its biggest supporter.

All eyes will be on Verdi. The former Italian international has already made a very strong impression in training (FCS resumed on January 2nd) and is eager to get back on the pitch. He didn't make an appearance for Como in Serie A. What makes Verdi's FCS debut particularly special is the chance to face his former coach. Roberto DonadoniUnder Donadoni, Verdi experienced the best period of his career at Bologna. Donadoni transformed the attacking midfielder into a defining figure in Serie A, indirectly ensuring that Verdi earned four caps for the Italian national team.

Simone Verdi's debut is expected against Spezia.

In the autumn, Donadoni, who also coached the Italian national team, was brought back as head coach after a long hiatus. He is tasked with saving Spezia from relegation to Serie C. With 17 points, the black and whites from the Ligurian port city of La Spezia are one point ahead of FCS. The fact that the first match of 2026 is a direct clash makes the situation even more intense. For both teams, a loss is simply not an option!