SB - Football - Italy - Serie B

This will be the first league match for Modena. They lost the only competitive clash in the new season (Coppa Italia fixture with Genoa), but didn't disappoint. Even more, they scored three goals against Serie A outfit as guests, but suffered 4:3 (Manconi, Tremolada and Gargiulo were scorers). Ascoli, meanwhile, lost 3:0 to Cosenza. It was a poor display, just 29 percent possession and no shot on target. I think they will suffered another defeat here.

Ascoli are weaker this season as some important players left the club - goalkeeper Leali (25 games in Serie B last season) joined Sampdoria, Simic (26 games) joined M. Haifa, Giordano (18 games) signed for Sampdoria, Collocolo (36 games, 4 goals) and Gondo (34 games, 7 goals) went to Cremonese, Marsura (13 games, 3 goals) joined Catania etc. Of course, some new players arrived, but I think they need some time for acclimatization.

To be worse, Ascoli will be missing four players through suspension - Falasco, Buchel, Forte and Bellusci. Defender Nicola Falasco was sent off in first match of the season. Falasco has played 27 Serie B games for Ascoli last season and created two assists. Midfielder Marcel Buchel made 28 Serie B appearances, scored one goal and provided one assist. Finally, striker Francesco Forte featured in 14 games last season, scored three goals and provided one assist. Forte was sent off in the 48th minute for having "punched an opponent in the face with the ball" and will be out three games. On top of that, Giovanni Bellusci will serve the last game for the red card he received on the final day of the last season. Finally, Tavcar is struggling with injury.

It will be a big surprise if Ascoli remain unbeaten

26/08/2023 06:39, read 763 times