My memory suggests that none of the teams you listed are from Sicily, which I know Palermo and Messina are. If I am remembering correctly, when was the last time a Sicilian team was in Serie A?
The last Sicilian team in Serie A (best I can tell) was Catania in 1983-84. They came up for one year, finished 16th, and went straight back down. I think Palermo was last at the top flight sometime in the 1970s. ---------- Having both Palermo and Messina up would be great, especially if Reggina stays up. Those Messina - Reggina Calcio ties would be special. The Messina fans sound a little, well, "passionate". (Insert your own stereotype if you like). The team spanked Atalanta, and the fans decided to help out. Messina 3-0 Atalanta Messina climb into second place, but this top of the table clash may be replayed after violence marred the tie. Before the game Atalanta’s team bus was pelted with rocks by opposing fans and shattered glass from one of the windows hurt goalkeeper Massimo Taibi. The former Manchester United man was able to play regularly, but the club has lodged a written protest asking for the match to be replayed. There was further anger during the encounter as a series of controversial refereeing decisions affected the result. Arturo Di Napoli’s deflected free kick opened the scoring, then just before the break Parisi pounced on a loose ball to rifle in from the edge of the box. There was controversy in the second half when Atalanta were only awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, despite the fact replays show Zoro’s foul was clearly inside. Sullo completed the rout late on from the penalty spot.
Messina wins on the road. And Fiorentina is right back in the thick of it too. Next week they are at Ternana, the team directly ahead of them. Tomorrow, Palermo and Atalanta. Palermo 60 34 Messina 58 35 Livorno 57 35 Atalanta 55 34 Piacenza 55 34 Ternana 54 35 Cagliari 53 35 Fiorentina 53 35
Messina has been banned from playing at home for one match for their fans' "passionate" behavior vs Atalanta.
That's the same slap-on-the-wrist that Roma got. I'm sure they'll take the 3 points and avoid replaying Atalanta. Where would they play the neutral game? Against whom?
Actually, Roma's was increased to a 2-game ban! And it's not really a slap on the wrist when you're in the middle of a promotion battle. Although they are currently in second place, there are 6 teams within five points of them. BTW, Roma's April 10 game vs Chievo will be played in Palermo. Haven't heard where Messina will play their neutral-site game, which will be the April 17 match vs Venezia. Reggina is away that weekend, perhaps they'll play across the strait although I'm not sure how cozy the relationship is between the two clubs. It's certainly a bitter rivalry among the fans. Perhaps Cosenza?
No idea about the Messina game. I don't think that Reggio would be acceptable to anyone. Unless you mean the other Reggio. Surprised about Roma-Chievo in Palermo. Are these games usually held so far away? Maybe Cosenza is too close to Messina. I guess it would depend on the opponent. I think they'll take losing the road game rather than replaying Atalanta. Maybe Messina could play their game in Bergamo.
Speculation on the Messina board seems to be that it might be in Foggia. Another possibility is Campobasso, where Messina already played once this season, when Napoli was forced to play 5 "home" games on neutral fields. Not sure if there's any minimum distance away from home that is specified in the punishment. At any rate, there would probably be a lot of local fans showing up to be AGAINST them, if they played someplace nearby like Reggio or, maybe worse, Catania. So it makes sense to go a little further away. Doesn't Sensi own both Roma and Palermo? That would explain the Roma game being played in Palermo. Not great for the home fans, but I'm sure it'll still be very full with a partisan crowd. Not like Chievo has a passionate following around the country.
How many teams go up in Serie B. I am interested to see if Messina goes up, also how is Rahman Rezaei doing??
Palermo seems to be the place to hold neutral 'home' games. I think that Israel was holding its Euro Cup qualifiers there. Do the Palermo fans have friendly relations with Roma? Or maybe with Lazio? I read somewhere that Palermo are arch-enemies of Cagliari. And I think that Cagliari are historically friendly with Lazio And Lazio are friendly with Verona, who hate, HATE Chievo. Therefore, yes, Palermo and Roma must be friends...... and Roma will have support in Palermo.....maybe. What are the relationships down there in Sicily? I'd assume that they must all be pretty antipathetic towards one another. Though it sure would make things exciting to have a number of teams at the top flight. Ruffryder, My understanding (someone correct me if I am wrong) is that five teams are definitely going up. A sixth team will play against a Serie A team for the final place. Palermo 61 35 Messina 58 35 Livorno 57 35 Atalanta 56 35 Piacenza 55 34 ------------- Ternana 54 35 ********** Cagliari 53 35 Fiorentina 53 35 Triestina 51 35 Catania 50 35 Vicenza 50 35 Torino 49 35 Napoli 45 35 Treviso 42 35 Ascoli 40 35 Genoa 40 35 Venezia 40 35 Albinoleffe 40 35 Verona 39 35 Salernitana 39 34 Pescara 38 35 Bari 34 35 Como 32 35 Avellino 25 35
And as a result, Ternana has replaced their coach: http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/apr5i.html
NER_MCFC, Fiorentina is in seventh. Five go up automatically. They are making quite a charge. I think that Atalanta is playing today. Palermo 64 36 Messina 61 36 Livorno 60 36 Cagliari 56 36 Atalanta 56 35 Piacenza 56 35 Fiorentina 56 36
NER_MCFC, I would've assumed they'd use goal differential, but who knows. The sixth place team has a playoff with the team fourth from the bottom in Serie A-- currently that's Modena.
I know a lot of people were unhappy that they got the free promotion, but if they can get back to Serie A it will be a vindication of sorts.
No, they still use old-fashioned playoffs to break ties in the Italian leagues, as far as I know. But, as picaraza mentioned, there is already a built-in playoff scheduled for this year, so the days of playoffs to break ties may be numbered. Otherwise, there could be playoffs to make it to playoffs, etc etc. Things could go on all summer!
This got split into the Friends and Enemies thread, but it was easier to repost it than to resplit the thread .... the Messina-Venezia match will be played in Bari.
So Palermo loses to strugglers and now is holding onto automatic promotion by 6 points. I'm getting a sick feeling in my gut.
Como axe Fascetti http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/apr20g.html And did anybody see the crazy scene in Bari, where Messina was playing Venezia. Apparently, the Venezia president (or perhaps another official) had made some statements before the game to the effect that the refs would be biased for teams chasing promotion - and after Venezia's second player got sent off in a sort of dubious penalty call (which put Messina up 2-1), Venezia's keeper Soviero started berating the ref. He was also shown the red and promptly went berserk - attacking the Messina bench, swinging wildly at everybody within reach, until he was finally escorted away. Anyway, here is the table with 8 weeks remaining: Palermo 65 Messina 65 Atalanta 65 Livorno 64 Cagliari 62 ------- Piacenza 61 ------- Fiorentina 59 Triestina 58 Ternana 55 Catania 53 Vicenza 52 Torino 51 Napoli 48 Genoa 46 Treviso 46 Albinoleffe 44 Ascoli 44 Salernitana 44 Venezia 41 Pescara 41 -------- Verona 40 Bari 37 Como 32 Avellino 28
Fiorentina beat Messina yesterday and is now in the promotion playoff position! Yikes, I am certain NO team in Serie A would be excited to have to go into the Artemio Franchi with a position in Serie A on the line. The current standings: Palermo 68 Atalanta 66 Cagliari 65 Messina 65 Livorno 64 ---------- Fiorentina 62 ---------- Piacenza 61 Triestina 59 Ternana 56 Catania 56 Torino 52 Vicenza 52 Napoli 49 Treviso 47 Ascoli 47 Salernitana 47 Genoa 46 Albinoleffe 45 Venezia 44 Pescara 41 ---------- Bari 40 Verona 40 Como 33 Avellino 28
3x7+40 = 61, and they have 62, by gum, you are right, sir (no fair, I think you heard that somewhere else).
Nope, I didn't get back from my game yesterday until after novantessimo minuto was over, and I hadn't looked at anything except the results and standings for Serie B. It's mostly just all that experience doing the arithmetic of relegation.
I haven't been watching any of the Serie B games on RAI International this season because they've been on early in the morning and had been several-day delay. But it looks like, now that the league has switched most of their games to Saturdays and there aren't anymore anticipi or posticipi for Serie A, the coverage is improving. Tomorrow (Friday), they'll be showing the Atalanta-Vicenza game live (or only slightly delayed) at 3pm EDT. Not the best matchup of the week (that would be Livorno-Fiorentina), but I think I'll check it out. Here are the rest of the games for the weekend (round 40 of 46): Saturday Venezia-Como Ascoli-Catania Avellino-Piacenza Cagliari-Bari Livorno-Fiorentina Messina-Treviso Palermo-Genoa Salernitana-Albinoleffe Ternana-Triestina Torino-Verona Sunday Pescara-Napoli