Monza does not break through. At the U-Power Stadium, under the eyes of Galliani, President Paolo Berlusconi and the newcomer Boateng, the Brianza do not go beyond 0-0 in their Serie B debut after 19 years. Brocchi’s men make mistakes and disappoint, the people of Ferrara show themselves to be concrete and snatch an important point.
It wasn’t easy, in fact, not to feel the pressure of the red and white enthusiasm. The feeling of being at the beginning of another historic ride was strong, very strong. Accomplice a respectable parterre: from the mayor Dario Allevi to old acquaintances of the Milan home like Ignazio Abate, Luca Antonini e l’ex ds Rocco Maiorino, Nicola Legrottaglie, Bobo Vieri, until Max Allegri. The Brianteo car park is another confirmation: forget the small cars, luxury cars and SUVs dominate. And then the double live national TV, the presence of the referee Orsato, fresh from the direction of the Champions League final and protagonist of a symbolic start of the season that returns to join Can A and Can B. Many clues that show a very high level outline. Because the goal, openly declared and never hidden, is direct promotion to Serie A.
Brocchi can count on ten of the eleven new signings: in fact, the newly arrived Boateng goes to the stands. From the first minute here are Donati, Colpani, Barberis, Maric and Gytkjaer, in the second half space in Barillà and Frattesi. Marino’s new Spal ranks Dickmann e Brignola, the rest – except Fares – is the backbone of the team relegated from A. In the stands, however, Sebastiano Esposito. The first half suffers too much from the excitement of the debut: the pre-season rust struggles to wipe itself out, the first chance happens only at 23 ‘, with Paletta’s turn controlled without problems by Berisha. Spal is insidious, holds the field well and advances without awe. Marino, on the other hand, starts Serie A with the same goal as Brocchi. The silence of Brianteo is interrupted by timid applause from the 800 spectators of the U-Power Stadium and by the voice, clear and clear for those in the stands, of Nicola Rizzoli. The referee often recalls the protagonists of the contest, with tones that are sometimes soft (“Come on, what need is there to keep the ball away?”) And sometimes hard (“Bellusci, watch out for me”). In the final of the first fraction Monza grows: Machin raises the engine revs and tries to give liveliness, Maric (34 ‘) is dangerous with a header deflected for a corner by Berisha.
In the second half, Spal started strong: the blue-and-whites show more than good game plots and are not afraid to appear in the Brianza half field. At 59 ‘it is Strefezza who touches the advantage with a right that just goes out on the bottom. A few minutes later the Brianteo holds his breath: D’Alessandro sows panic with a serpentine, discards four opponents and kicks, hitting the post. Marino sniffs the full booty and also inserts Paloschi. However, Monza, with Armellino’s header hitting the post and Barillà failing in the winning tap-in. Brocchi plays the Mota card, but dares little, keeping the 4-3-1-2 so dear to President Berlusconi. At 81 ‘here is the great chance: Sampirisi goes down in the area after a contact with Dickmann, Orsato indicates the penalty, but some doubts remain. However, Gytkjaer, who lets himself be hypnotized by Berisha, thinks to frustrate everything. At 90 ‘Mota touches the winning goal, but Berisha is again very good at saying no. Thus ends a match that is not very sparkling but intense and full of adrenaline in the final. Monza disappoints, but at the exit of Brianteo there are those who remember the bankruptcy of the company and the afternoons on the fields of Serie D. The goal is clear, the material is there. To Brocchi the arduous task of making the big boys a real team.
THE TABLE
Monza-Spal 0-0
MONZA (4-3-1-2): Lamanna; Sampirisi, Paletta, Bellusci, Donati; Colpani (from 59 ‘Barillà), Barberis, Armellino (from 71’ Frattesi); Machin (from 89 ‘D’Errico); Maric (from 71 ‘Mota), Gytkjaer (from 89’ Finotto). Coach: Brocchi
SPAL (3-4-3): Berisha; Tomovic, Vicari, Salamon, Dickmann, Missiroli, Valoti, D’Alessandro (from 66 ‘Sernicola), Strefezza, Floccari (from 66’ Paloschi), Brignola (from 46 ‘Jankovic). Coach: Marino
Ammonites: 37 ‘Maric (M), 58’ D’Alessandro (S), 66 ‘Salamon (S), 68’ Strefezza (S), 74 ‘Sernicola (S)
Expelled: 83′ Marino (S)
(photo Buzzi)
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