Baldini's Spal: Self-harm and Comebacks, the Challenge Continues

A question of approach, concentration or simply attitude? The Pesaro race represented a perfect synthesis of the Spal by mister Baldini. A team that unfortunately has shown and confirmed to be prone to self-harm, a tendency to hurt themselves that is not sufficiently compensated by the generosity of Antenucci and his teammates. The match at the Benelli stadium encapsulated in 90 minutes plus injury time all the vices and virtues of the white and blues, who were immediately knocked out by a goal generated by a bloody ball lost by one of the most experienced and established players ever, El Kaddouri, and then desperately looking for a draw that came only at the end of the game thanks to a strike from Nador. A point that, despite what was produced – especially in the first half – is too small for Spal, who however must say mea culpa for yet another handicapped start that then inevitably conditions the rest of the match. Since Baldini has been on the white and blue bench (12 games in total), there have been six goals conceded in the first eight minutes. An enormity. To be precise, two in Chiavari against Virtus Entella, one at home against Campobasso, one at the Mazza stadium against Ternana, one on the Pineto pitch and the last one last Wednesday away against Vis Pesaro.

Six goals conceded coldly that translate into seven points left on the road. Seven points that looking at the standings would make all the difference in the world, projecting Spal into fifth-last position at -1 from Ascoli, +3 on Lucchese and +6 on Milan Futuro. Luckily Baldini's team - full of defects and at very high risk relegation – has a soul and a character that cannot be questioned. And that represent a lifeline to which the fans white and blues. If in fact the impact on the matches is worthy of censure, Spal scores in the last 15 minutes with the same frequency.

Baldini's boys scored six goals in the final quarter of an hour, unfortunately often and willingly when the omelette was already done. The goals scored at the end against Virtus Entella and Campobasso did not bring any points, nor did Karlsson's brace in Pineto that had brought the score back to parity but was then nullified by Nador's own goal.

But the decisive goal by Molina in Piancastagnaio also arrived in the last 15 minutes, in addition to the one in full recovery by Nador in Pesaro. If many times during the season the finger has been pointed at the physical condition of the team, often appearing in difficulty in the final stages of the match, now it is Spal who ends up on the up. It is a shame that almost always in order to wake up and start playing the white and blues need to find themselves chasing.

In the playouts, where two draws probably won't be enough to save themselves, Antenucci and his teammates won't be able to afford any of this. Team warned...

Stefano Manfredini