Focus TMW
Yesterday, Monday 13 January, the 21st round, the first of 2025, of the Serie B championship ended. The day ended with the success of Pisa who beat Carrarese 2-1 in the Tuscan derby at the Arena Garibaldi . The Nerazzurri thus remain in the wake of league leaders Sassuolo who, thanks to goals from Russo and Muharemovic, beat a Salernitana team in full crisis 2-1 at Arechi. This is the second consecutive success for the neroverdi after the defeat against Pisa on Santo Stefano. Spezia loses ground from the top two positions and is held to a 1-1 draw by Juve Stabia in the top-ranking clash played on Sunday afternoon. Remaining close to the top positions, Cremonese’s 2025 campaign opened with a good 3-0 success on the Frosinone pitch. Among the teams in the play-off zone, they then drew against Sudtirol and Reggiana, Catanzaro and Bari respectively. It ended 1-1 at the Druso between the South Tyroleans and the Calabrians, while the match at the Mapei Stadium between the Emilians and the Apulians ended goalless. Palermo returned to win (2-0) against Modena. It is worth highlighting Salvatore Sirigu’s return as a starter for Palermo 14 years after the last time. For the Canaries, however, it is the second consecutive match without being able to score.
Behind the rosanero in the standings is Cesena who did not go beyond a draw (0-0) at the Manuzzi against Cittadella. For the Venetians this is the fifth consecutive useful result. Sampdoria’s bad period continues, stopped at 1-1 by Brescia. The Blucerchiati with Semplici on the bench are still without victories. Together with the Genoese in the play-out zone there is Frosinone with 20 points, while Sudtirol is one point behind. Cosenza is at the bottom of the table on equal points with Salernitana, having reached their third consecutive defeat. Alvini’s team drew 2-2, after taking a 2-0 lead, against Mantova at the San Vito-Luigi Marulla. The Calabrians are no longer able to win (a success that has been missing since November 9th), while the Virgilians are still waiting for their first joy away from friendly walls.
Below is the TOP11 of the 21st matchday of Serie B according to the TMW report cards.
Form: 4-3-1-2
Pigliacelli (Catanzaro) – Attentive and personality performance. On a couple of occasions he is good at extinguishing potential dangers, decisive with a double save in the first half, on the goal his defender’s deflection mocks him and leaves him no possibility of intervention. In the decisive second half with two important saves.
Elia (Spezia) – Impregnable, he does what he wants on the wing.
Meroni (Reggiana) – He loses his teammate at the end of the first half, grits his teeth like the rest of the rearguard and manages not to give vent to Bari’s few attacks. Always attentive and concentrated.
Caracciolo (Pisa) – Charismatic defense leader, he does practically nothing wrong in air interventions. He crowned a great performance with the decisive goal in the 88th minute, taking advantage of the indecision of the Bleve-Illanes duo. True captain.
Masciangelo (Cittadella) – The best of his team makes it clear from the first seconds that there isn’t anyone in his league. He goes back and forth continuously with several dangerous crosses. He drops a bit in the second half but the match is certainly positive: the only one to try every time he can.
Vandeputte (Cremonese) – From the flag he draws the parable for Ceccherini, then he is clear in serving Bonazzoli at the right times. Man assists in DNA
Vazquez (Cremonese) – Flashes of supreme class, generous retreats and a superior vision of the game: the ball with which he gives way to the second goal is illuminating.
Ranocchia (Palermo) – Sumptuous performance from the midfielder, author of two kiss assists for his teammates. Excellent vision of the game and quality in his plays, he represents the lighthouse of the Rosanero midfield. His brilliant crosses were decisive for the goals of Brunori and Le Douaron.
Tramoni (Pisa) – Lively in the attacking midfield, he engages Bleve with an insidious conclusion and communicates well with his teammates, creating numerical superiority.
Brunori (Palermo) – The goal that unlocks the match is the right reward for a performance of great sacrifice. Continuous movement and constant dialogue with his teammates, a true offensive point of reference.
Artistic (Cosenza) – Not even 10 minutes of play in the Cosenza shirt and he scores with his chest. He fought throughout the match with De Maio and Cella, earning many fouls. He grazes the net by hitting the crossbar in the final moments.