Redan carries Avellino on his shoulders and responds to Catania’s double advantage: the attacker, a surprising choice in the starting eleven, pulls the Wolves forward and avoids a second consecutive defeat at home. Goals from D’Andrea and Stoppa were not enough for Domenico Toscano’s team, Raffaele Biancolino’s team made it 2-2 and achieved their third draw in a row. The next game will be away against Monopoli, and on Tuesday a Cup game against Giugliano.
The options
There is a new formation for the Python that Redan chooses from the first moment: the Dutchman makes up with Patierno up front. Behind them is D’Ausilio, Palmiero confirmed in the control room with Sounas and De Cristofaro as midfielders. Rigione wins against Cionek and the line with Enrici, Cancellotti and Frascatore finishes ahead of Iannarilli.
The news
On the forty-fourth anniversary of the earthquake in Irpinia, Avellino takes to the field in the matching black kit to honour the 2914 victims of the earthquake. Wolves try to take control of the game and push their opponents into their own half of the field, but the pace of the game is not high and there is no shortage of errors in the build-up phase. For the first opportunity we don’t have to wait long: in the 10th minute D’Ausilio collects from Patierno as he goes towards the goal, Catania save themselves at the last minute with a deflection that sends the ball into a corner. Etna’s reply arrives in the 16th minute with a shot from Di Gennaro from a tight angle, Iannarilli clears it for a corner. On subsequent developments, an opportunity for D’Andrea who finds the ball on the right but the goalkeeper is against him. The green and white team, who are in danger after a good start, have a great chance to take the lead in the 25th minute. Carpani, already booked, comes into contact with Frascatore and commits a foul in the area: the referee awards the maximum penalty to the home team. Patierno appears on the scene and Bethers hypnotizes him and does not release the result, causing a great opportunity to disappear. In the 33rd minute Stoppa’s attempt with a shot from outside the area, Iannarilli is not surprised and blocks. On the forward turn Patierno controls a tip from Cancellotti, but doesn’t connect with the left foot. In the 40th minute the rossozzurri were in front: after Stoppa’s crossbar hit from a free kick, D’Andrea found the way to the goal with a successful header on a cross from the right wing. In the final stages of the first half the tone of the game rises and the mood is burning up among the main players on the field, until half time the result does not change: 0-1 at Partenio.
At the start of the second half, Avellino equalized. Deep pass from D’Ausilio, Patierno is removed and he activates Redan: the former Triestina player does not fail in front of Bethers and scores his first goal in an Irpinia shirt. Catania will not accept it and responds with a play by Di Gennaro, denied by Frascatore, who is extremely proud of his save in the 55th minute. On the development of the corner, the Toscano brigade takes the lead again: Di Gennaro misses his header, Sounas doesn’t move away and Stoppa thanks him, depositing it behind Iannarilli. Former Juve player, Stabia, tries with the right foot from distance in the 57th minute, the trajectory goes out at the goal. Biancolino changes something in the central phase of the second half with Rocca and Liotti replacing De Cristofaro and Frascatore. In the 64th minute the Wolves take the risk: on a free kick from the center of the attack, D’Andrea hits and a carom from Rocca ends the ball on the high wood of the goal. A calm response from the green and white with Liotti in the 67th and 68th minutes, then D’Ausilio tries to take in the last quarter of the game, but Bethers does not take any particular risk. In the 77th minute, Pitone Campanile put on the field for Patierno and Russo for Sounas: the young attacker got in well and came close to equalizing with a header, only to be denied the target by the crossbar. In the final minutes, Avellino returned to the charge and scared Catania in the 81st minute with a counterattack after a free kick: Enrici and Redan failed to score. In the 82nd minute it was 2-2: Palmiero scored, Russo assisted and Redan made no mistakes, number 11 hit Bethers and brought the game back into balance. Inglese and Liotti are the characteristics of the emotions in recovery, both wasteful. Biancolino also relies on Toscano, but Partenio has no more time: the game ends in a draw.
The scoreboard
Avellino (4-3-1-2): Iannarilli; Cancellotti, Rigione, Enrici, Frascatore (63′ Liotti); De Cristofaro (63′ Rocca), Palmiero, Sounas (77′ Russo); D’Ausilio (93′ Toscano); Patierno (77′ Campanile), Dargan. Available: Marson, Llano, Benedetti, Cionek, Arzillo, Mutanda, Armellino, Gori, Vano. Trainer: Biancolino
Catania (3-4-1-2): Bethers; Castellini, Di Gennaro, Anastasio; Raimo, Verna, Carpani (86′ Quaini), Jimenez; tow; English, D’Andrea (66′ Luperini). Available: Bhutan, Adamonis, Allegra, Forti. Trainer: Toscano
Referee: Zanotti from Rimini
Marcatori: 40′ D’Andrea (C), 48’ Redan (A), 55′ Stoppa (C), 82′ Redán (A)
Booked: Palmiero (A), Carpani, D’Andrea, Di Gennaro, Bethers, Jimenez (C)
How might Avellino improve their performance in upcoming matches based on this draw?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Football Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have a special guest, renowned football analyst Dr. Matteo Rossi, to discuss the recent match between Avellino and Catania. Thanks for joining us, Matteo.
Dr. Rossi: Thank you for having me! It’s great to be here.
Editor: Let’s dive right in! The match ended in a surprising 2-2 draw, with Avellino showing resilience. How did you view Avellino’s performance, especially with Redan stepping up?
Dr. Rossi: Avellino’s performance showcased their fighting spirit, particularly by Redan, who was a surprising element in the starting line-up. His goal early in the second half was crucial, reflecting both his personal desire to make an impact and Avellino’s need to avoid a second consecutive home defeat. It’s evident that they played with a lot of heart, especially given the emotional backdrop of honoring the earthquake victims.
Editor: Absolutely, it was poignant to see the team don the black kit in memory of the 2914 earthquake victims. How do you think this affected their motivation during the match?
Dr. Rossi: It certainly provides an added layer of motivation. Sports can be a powerful platform for remembrance and unity. The players likely drew strength from that emotional connection, fueling their determination to perform well on such a meaningful day. It can create a sense of responsibility to honor the memory of those lost by giving their best on the pitch.
Editor: On the tactical side, what did you think of the new formation employed by Avellino? Redan and Patierno up front seemed to add a different dynamic.
Dr. Rossi: The new formation definitely shifted the dynamics. Pairing Redan and Patierno gave them more threat in attack and allowed for greater flexibility in how they approached the game. It also seemed to provide a spark, especially with D’Ausilio controlling the midfield. However, there were periods where they struggled with build-up play, leading to missed opportunities.
Editor: The match did have its share of missed chances, including a missed penalty by Patierno. How do you think that impacted the team’s morale?
Dr. Rossi: Missing a penalty can be demoralizing. In such tight matches, converting those chances can change the game’s momentum. Patierno must have felt the weight of that miss, but what was encouraging was how the team rallied together, particularly after Redan’s equalizer. It’s a testament to their mentality and togetherness as a squad.
Editor: Catania took the lead again after Avellino’s equalizer. How did you assess their strategy, especially under pressure?
Dr. Rossi: Catania’s strategy hinged on capitalizing on set pieces and maintaining a robust defensive structure, and they did that effectively at times. Their ability to bounce back and regain the lead showed resilience, which is crucial in match situations. However, they also allowed Avellino back into the game, indicating some vulnerabilities in their defence that they need to address moving forward.
Editor: Looking ahead, Avellino will face Monopoli in their next match and then a Cup game against Giugliano. What advice would you give them heading into those games?
Dr. Rossi: They need to build on this momentum—focus on their attacking combinations while tightening their defensive strategies. Consistency will be key. Managing fatigue and maintaining sharp focus during the next matches will also be crucial, particularly in a cup game where the intensity is often higher. They will need to stay disciplined and take their chances when they arise.
Editor: Great insights, Matteo! One last question: considering the performance of both teams, how do you think this draw affects their standings moving forward?
Dr. Rossi: Both teams will see this draw as a missed opportunity, but it was particularly critical for Avellino to avoid defeat at home. It keeps them in contention without falling further behind. For Catania, they will need to leverage this performance to convert draws into wins in future matches to secure their position in the league. Every point is vital in such a competitive environment.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Rossi, for your thoughtful analysis. It was a pleasure having you on Time.news!
Dr. Rossi: Thank you for having me! It’s always great to discuss the beautiful game.