Spal, give us a sign of life. Beat the taillight to still have hope

Calling it the last call is perhaps an exaggeration, considering that there are still five days left until the end of the regular season – including today’s – but it is clear that the match against Legnago Salus will remove many doubts about Spal’s prospects. Baldini’s team – coming off a dramatic and painful defeat on the Pineto pitch and a week spent in a punitive retreat – is called upon to beat the championship’s bottom team and send out signs of life. Otherwise, the last four rounds will be an ordeal and the nightmare of direct relegation to Serie D destined to accompany the white and blues until the end of the tournament. The situation is already very complicated at this point, but we must force ourselves to be optimistic and think that a success against the modest but combative Legnago Salus (last in the class practically since the beginning of the season) could provide Antenucci and his teammates with the confidence and momentum needed to save the category. Compared to the last outings, mister Baldini is inclined to change something on a tactical level. We are moving towards the return of the four-man defence – partly by choice, partly due to a lack of alternatives – and more precisely towards a 4-2-3-1 already tested in Pineto during the match.

There are still doubts, for example Nador could act in midfield paired with Radrezza, but he is also in the running for a place in the center of defense together with one between Bruscagin and Bassoli. In the three-quarters the wingers could be D'Orazio and Parigini, with Antenucci behind Karlsson. The captain will certainly play from the first minute: if he were to lead the attack, Parigini would be the second striker and Rao the left winger (and the Icelander would end up on the bench). Regardless of the players, however, it is the attitude that will make the difference: mister Baldini is aware of this, and will send onto the field the players who during the week of retreat in Villafranca di Verona gave him the most guarantees, not so much from a technical point of view as from a mental one. By the way, the game will be at the Mazza, where Spal has not taken full points for more than four months and is coming off five defeats in a row. An embarrassing and humiliating record for the white and blue people, who despite everything will be in the stands of the stadium in Corso Piave today to drag Spal to a victory that would be pure oxygen.

Stefano Manfredini