Before the top game: FCS opponent Bari under the microscope

the initial situation The fourth-placed team welcomes the third-placed team from Bari. Both teams would – as of now – qualify directly for the playoff semi-finals. Both FC Südtirol and Bari are having an outstanding season - after all, they were only promoted to Serie B last year. While the FCS simply aimed to stay in the league in the summer, Bari wanted to play a quiet season without a relegation battle. Now both teams face each other in the top game of the 32nd matchday. FC Südtirol is still undefeated in the second half of the season - the only Italian professional team.

The trainer Michele Mignani may not be the biggest name in Italian football. After all, the Bari coach rose from Serie C to Serie A as a player with Siena (1998 – 2006) – and as captain. This year the former defender is coaching a Serie B team for the first time. Mignani and Bari – that is a success story. The 50-year-old took over the traditional club in Serie C in the summer of 2021 and is already fighting for promotion to Serie A almost two years later.

The goalscorer With 15 goals and 7 assists, Walid Cheddira is the league's top scorer - and probably the best player in Serie B. The 25-year-old reached the semi-finals with Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar. In the winter, numerous Serie A clubs were after Cheddira - including Napoli. The step into Serie A should follow by summer at the latest - regardless of Bari's promotion. Incidentally, the Moroccan was spared in the first leg against FCS because he flew to the World Cup immediately afterwards.

Walid Cheddira has 22 scorer points. This is a league best.

The Club Bari is not only a large city (around 320.000 inhabitants) and the capital of Puglia, but also a big name in Italian football. The jersey with the rooster on the chest can look back on a total of 33 seasons in Serie A. The home stadium, San Nicola, has space for 58.000 spectators, was built for the 1990 World Cup and is the third largest football temple in Italy. Bari is currently in the hands of Napoli boss Aurelio De Laurentiis. The film producer from Rome will have to sell the club in the summer - if promoted - because he is not allowed to be the owner of two Serie A clubs at the same time.

The first leg On November 12, 2022, Bari and the FCS dueled. At that time, FCS coach Pierpaolo Bisoli was suspended in the stands and defense chief Masiello was missing because of his history as a betting offender. Nevertheless, FC Südtirol managed a 2-2 draw at the San Nicola Stadium. The Bisoli team even had a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Fabian Tait and Raphael Odogwu. In the end you had to be happy with the points you won.

The Masiello question Does he play or doesn't he play? Many fans are asking themselves this question these days. We're talking about Andrea Masiello. The defense chief is the great stabilizer in the FCS defense. His betting offense and the fatal own goal in the derby against Lecce in 2011, which sealed the opponent's relegation, are still omnipresent among Bari fans. That's why it was clear early on that Masiello wouldn't be making the trip to his former club in the first leg. What will things look like on Monday in the second leg of Bolzano? When asked, the club did not want to comment on this topic. A statement is expected in the next few days.

The Serie B table SP G U V TV P 1. Frosinone 31 19 6 6 49:20 63 2. Genoa 31 17 9 5 40:19 59 3. Baric 31 14 11 6 47:28 53 4. FC South Tyrol 31 13 13 5 35:29 52 5. Cagliari 31 11 13 7 39:30 46 6. Step on 31 11 12 8 42:30 45 7. Parma 31 12 8 11 37:34 44 8. Brescia 30 13 3 14 39:36 42 9. Palermo 31 10 12 9 39:39 42 10. Ternana 31 10 10 11 30:37 40 11. Modena 31 11 6 14 41:43 39 12. As 31 9 12 10 37:39 39 13. Ascoli 31 10 9 12 34:39 39 14. Venice 31 9 9 13 34:41 36 15. Cittadella 31 8 12 11 28:39 36 16. Cosenza (-4) 31 9 8 14 26:47 35 17. Perugia 30 9 7 14 33:35 34 18. Col 31 6 11 14 32:43 29 19. Benevento 31 6 11 14 23:35 29 20. Brescia 31 6 10 15 26:48 28

Serie B Italy	SP	TV	P
1. Step on	8	17:9	19
2. Specia	8	12:7	16
3. Sassuolo	8	14:8	15
4. Juventus Stabia	8	9:8	14
5. Brescia	8	12:9	13
6. FC South Tyrol	8	12:12	12
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Before the top game: FCS opponent Bari under the microscope

On Easter Monday (15 p.m.) FC Südtirol continues with a home game against SSC Bari. The top game in the Drusus Stadium has already been sold out for several days. We first looked at the opponent and an important question.

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