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In the second round of the Italy "Serie B" division, today's final matchday, 40 rounds will end with a single match, and teams will have to play two matches left until the end of the championship. The first two places are already clear, taken by the teams that earned direct tickets to the "Serie A" championship. Seven teams are still competing for the last ticket in the play-off matches. Eurofootball.com presents an overview of the "Serie B" championship.
Who won the direct promotions?
Although there are still two rounds left until the end of the championship, the first two places and the ticket to the next season's "Serie A" championship have already been earned by "Crotone" and "Cagliari" teams. The histories of both clubs differ significantly - one of them played in Italy's highest division last season, while the other entered the "Serie A" for the first time in 106 years of the club's history.
"Crotone" (1st place, 79 points) - last season finished 16th in the "Serie B" championship. Entered the "Serie A" for the first time in the club's history.
The success of the "Crotone" team before the season would hardly have been believed by even the most loyal fans of this club. Last season, the team narrowly stayed in the league and chose a conservative strategy - the team not only did not spend in the transfer market but also earned by selling three key players. The team decided to fill those gaps by renting players from "Serie A" teams and Ante Budimir, who did not establish himself in the German second division.
It was the rented players who became the main weapons of the "Crotone" team in attack. Budimir scored 16 goals, and Federico Ricci, who came from Roma for years, contributed with 11 goals and 8 assists. However, the secret of the success of this team was excellent defense. The team's coach, Ivan Jurić, usually fielded three center backs, and this tactic paid off - the team holds the first position in the championship in terms of goals conceded.
By the way, one of the leaders of the team who played on loan this season - Ante Budimir, will be retained by the team. It was announced that "Crotone" acquired the Croatian for one million euros, starting to build the composition for the debut in the "Serie A" championship. The team, counting 106 years of history, has never reached the top division in Italy.
"Cagliari" (2nd place, 77 points) - last season finished 18th in the "Serie A" championship. Returns to the highest league after a year break.
Last season, "Cagliari" team relegated from "Serie A" underwent many changes both in the team's composition and coaching staff. The new strategist, Massimo Rastelli, led the team to victories by signing many newcomers (only seven players from the previous season remained in the squad). The Italian managed to handle these responsibilities, and the team returns to the highest league just after a year break.
Guided by the Brazilians - Diego Fariaso (14 goals and 13 assists) and Joao Pedro (13 goals and 6 assists), "Cagliari" became the most productive team in the championship. Due to their return to the highest league, they did not allow anyone to doubt for a moment - from the first round, "Cagliari" never fell below the 2nd position in the "Serie B" championship. Although the team scattered points more often at the end of the season, the points collected earlier and the lead over their closest competitors secured them a ticket to the highest league already.
Who is competing for the play-off matches for the ticket to "Serie A"?
The teams left in positions 3-8 will have a chance to fight for the last spot in the "Serie A" championship. Initially, the teams occupying positions 5 and 8, and 6 and 7, will play a single match in the quarterfinals, and the winner will advance to the semifinals, where they will meet the teams remaining in 1st and 2nd place. In the semifinals, as in the final, two matches will be played, and the teams will advance to the next stage by summing up the results of both matches.
Two teams - "Pescara" and "Trapani", have already secured their place among the six teams participating in the playoff stage. Fighting for the last four spots are five teams - "Bari", "Novara", "Cesena", "Spezia", and "Entella". Two of these teams - "Trapani" and "Entella" are fighting for the historic opportunity to debut in the "Serie A" championship next season.
"Pescara" (3rd place, 68 points) - last season finished 7th in the "Serie B" championship and reached the playoffs. During those, they reached the final, where they lost with a combined score of 0-2 to the "Bologna" team. They last played in the top league in the 2012-2013 season.
"Trapani" (4th place, 67 points) - last season finished 11th in the "Serie B" championship. Never played in the top league.
"Bari" (5th place, 65 points) - last season finished 10th in the "Serie A" championship. Last played in the top league in the 2010-2011 season.
"Novara" (6th place, 62 points*) - last season finished 1st in the "Lega Pro" championship. Last played in the top league in the 2011-2012 season.
"Cesena" (7th place, 62 points) - last season finished 19th in the "Serie A" championship.
"Spezia" (8th place, 62 points**) - last season finished 5th in the "Serie B" championship, but stumbled already in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. In 2008, teams merged, which won the Italian champions title in 1944.
"Entella" (9th place, 61 points) - last season finished 19th in the "Serie B" championship. Never played in the top league.
*According to the Federation's decision, two points are deducted from "Novara"; ** "Spezia" will play their 40th round match today.
Lithuanian
21-year-old goalkeeper Tomas Švedkauskas, who belongs to the "Roma" team, spent the season playing for "Ascoli" in the "Serie B" championship. The Lithuanian team currently holds the fifteenth position and has not yet secured a place in the second strongest Italian division next year.
Švedkauskas had his opportunities in goal from November to January, when the main goalkeeper was sidelined due to injury, he got a chance to play in nine matches for the main team. After Ivan Lanni recovered from his injury, he missed one game on the bench, but in that match, the Lithuanian conceded four goals, and from that moment, Švedkauskas again gave up the position of the main goalkeeper to his colleague.
Standings:
Tautvydas Sakalauskas
