The analysis. Record-breaking first three. Never so good in Serie B

A record-breaking escape after 24 days. The roster of the first three leaders of the Cadet tournament standings, with Sassuolo (56 points), Pisa (53) and Spezia (48), has no equal in the history of Serie B. In fact, the three teams in the lead, in the total sum of the points obtained, have conquered a total of 156 points, an absolute record for the cadet league. In general, in the last five years, there has been an increase in the points obtained by the top three in the standings, but never like in this championship. Just think that last year the leading trio had conquered 141 points. This year's data is also clearly better than the famous 2006-2007 season, when Juventus, Napoli and Genoa won the championship arm in arm. In that season, after 24 days, the Bianconeri led the standings with 46 points, 55 if we consider the 9 points of penalty for the 'Calciopoli' affair, ahead of Napoli (44) and Piacenza (41), even if at the end of the season it was the Grifone who went to Serie A. In total, this is 140 points obtained on the field, a good 16 points less than the pace of the top three in this championship. Going backwards, in 2022-2023 the points of the leading trio were 135, in 2021-2022 136 and in 2020-2021 128 points.

Furthermore, the Pisa, compared to its history, currently has the absolute record of points after 24 games (53). Never in history had it achieved it with an average of 2,20, not even the famous Pisa of Gigi Simoni, during the Anconetani era. It should be noted that only two teams have done better than the Nerazzurri (apart from this year's Sassuolo). These are Frosinone in 2022-23, who after 24 games led the standings with 54 points, and Benevento in 2019-20, with 57 points. Both were coached respectively by Grosso, now at Sassuolo, and by Inzaghi, now at Pisa. This weekend of matches will offer many ideas. There is not only the Nerazzurri's challenge against Cittadella. This afternoon in fact Mantova-Sassuolo at 15 pm, while tomorrow, also at 15 pm, Spezia will play against Palermo at home. The goal, for all three, is to keep Cremonese at least 15 points away, 16 points from Pisa, and 11 points from Spezia, in order to avoid the playoffs. The Grigiorossi will play tomorrow against Sud Tirol.

Michele Bufalino