Sampdoria showed a lot of promise early on in the season and looked like they would spring a surprise on everyone by chasing the ultimate prize in the peninsula, but that soon vanished when they went into a depressing run of three games without a victory.

However, last week’s win against Chievo would have gone some way in restoring the faith that they can step up to the occasion in the heated derby game that awaits them at the Marassi.

Genoa have had a difficult time playing a series of fixtures including those in the Europa League, which has left the squad somewhat fatigued. But the Derby della Lanterna will see both sides rearing to go one up on their immediate rivals, who are fighting for a Champions League spot this season.

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Ancona missed the opportunity to maintain the two point lead in the division after dropping off two points in the home clash against mid-table side Sassuolo. The visitors finished the last 11 minutes with 10 men, as Massimiliano Fusani was sent-off. But Alessandro Noselli snatched a point for them in the final few of the match. Gaetano Masucci gave Sassuolo the lead in the first-half on 25 minutes, only for joint-top scorer Salvatore Mastronunzio to score the first of his two goals six minutes later. The forward would complete his brace in the second-half to hand the Dorici the lead before the last 15 minutes of intense action forced the league leaders to settle for a point.

Lecce were the main beneficiary from the draw as the club mounted a stunning comeback to register a 3-2 victory over Grosseto. The Salentini have one of the best home records in the league, and their come-from-behind victory after falling two goals down courtesy of a double scored by danger-man Pinilla proves how resolute they are at the Stadio Via del Mare. Lecce’s goals came via Brazilian pair Fabiano (45th minute) and Angelo (46th) before Guillermo Giacomazzi (74th) scored the winner.

Empoli continued their great home record with a comfortable 2-0 win over Cesena at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. The Azzurri scored a goal each half through Claudio Coralli and Mirko Valdifiori to cruise to third place in the standings just three points behind the joint leaders. Cesena have now dropped to fourth place and have been joined by Modena which recorded a 2-0 home win thanks to two goals by forward Salvatore Bruno.

The biggest surprise this weekend came in Turin where Torino lost 2-1 to Crotone stretching their winless streak to upset the local fans. The tifosi heavily protested and left the stadium to wait outside for the players by the parking to voice their displeasure. Rolando Bianchi scored the consolation goal for the hosts after a disastrous four-minute spell saw two goals for the visitors through Nicola Petrilli and Antonino Bonvissuto. Bianchi has now scored 12 times this season to top the scoring charts with Ancona’s Mastronunzio.

Meanwhile, Frosinone finally stopped the series of negative results after snatching a late point in an entertaining 2-2 home draw with one of the division’s weaker sides Albinoleffe. The visitors had a player sent off in injury-time when Piccinni received his marching orders with the score tied 2-2. Twice the Celeste scored the go ahead goal only for the Canarini to respond back each time through Swiss player Migjen Basha and Vincenzo Santoruvo respectively. Santoruvo scored the game’s last goal towards the end of the match.

Piacenza registered a rare home win after edging Ascoli 2-1 despite falling to a goal scored by Marco Bernacci for the visitors. The hosts scored twice in the second-half to gain all three points and jump a few spots up the table above the relegation zone. Ascoli had defender Vittorio Micolucci sent-off during the last 10 minutes of the match but after the Biancorossi were up 2-1 through Brazilian Rincon and Davide Moscardelli strikes.

Bottom dwellers Salernitana continued their woeful run that will likely see them relegated at the end of the season, after failing to defend a 1-0 lead to eventually crash 3-1 to visitors Gallipoli.

One of the weekend’s most hotly contested matches saw Vicenza edge hosts Padova 2-1 during an encounter that witnessed everything from goals to red cards and even a missed penalty. Vicenza’s Sasa Bjelanovic missed the penalty but later scored the winner to emerge as the hero for the Berici.

Here are the results:

Ancona 2-2 Sassuolo
Empoli 2-0 Cesena
Lecce 3-2 Grosseto
Frosinone 2-2 Albinoleffe
Modena 2-0 Triestina
Padova 1-2 Vicenza
Piacenza 2-1 Ascoli
Torino 1-2 Crotone
Salernitana 1-3 Gallipoli

Rami Soufi, Football Italiano

It is time for another round of games in the second division, where the action never stops.

After a loss in the last round to Ancona, Frosinone have to deal with another difficult clash as Sassuolo are swiftly chasing a spot in the Serie A next season. The hosts have lately stepped off the gas, and a loss on home soil could result in the Canarini losing some ground in a league where small mistakes usually turn out to either make or break a season.

Meanwhile, Lecce with take on an eternally underperforming Empoli side at the Stadio Via del Mare. The hosts are in superb form following three consecutive victories against Salernitana, Galliopoli, and Reggina. They may have registered victories against teams that are in the wrong half of the table, but the form and the win will count towards a team that is riding high on confidence. The travellers on the other hand, are lossless in five outings, but are nowhere close to performing to potential.

Here are the fixtures for this week:

Albinoleffe – Gallipoli
Ancona – Cesena
Cittadella – Padova
Crotone – Piacenza
Frosinone – Sassuolo
Grosseto – Ascoli
Lecce – Empoli
Mantova – Brescia
Modena – Vicenza
Reggina – Salernitana
Triestina – Torino

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