Celta is on the road to Europe. Italiano tries to put the brakes on: “Bologna is stronger than the emergency.”
Stronger than the emergency. “Defensively, we’re in a very difficult moment, but luckily I have intelligent players capable of adapting to all roles,” says Vincenzo Italiano. Blessed be their versatility and mutual aid. Tonight, however, they’ll need to be, above all, stronger than a Celta Vigo side that just four days ago swept Real Madrid to the ground in La Liga at the Bernabeu. “Along with Aston Villa, they’re the best-equipped team we’ll face,” warns Italiano. “As always, we haven’t had much time to study them, because playing every three days takes something away from you. But in the last video session, I told my players to enjoy the privilege of playing every three days: a privilege we must hold on to.” Italiano doesn’t look like someone who, when it comes to football, enjoys blowing out candles on a cake: yet yesterday the Rossoblu coach cut the ribbon on his forty-eighth birthday. “The gift I asked of my players? To leave the pitch with their heads held high once again,” says Vincenzo. Even better if they add three points to their heads held high. “I don’t think everything will be decided tomorrow, because from now until the end there are nine points up for grabs,” the coach reasons. “It’s certainly a chance to add points to our standings and stay in touch with the top twenty-four: dropping points here would force us to work overtime later. We have a dream, which is to reach the round of 16, and we want to make it happen.” Celta Vigo 9 points, Bologna 8: never has there been a better opportunity to try to overtake them. “Our goal is to play a great game,” he adds, “as part of our growth journey.” Growth also happens in difficult situations, and the challenges posed by the precarious health of many Rossoblu players are enormous. “Ferguson has had a fever for two or three days,” reveals Italiano. “We brought him with us and we’ll see how he is tomorrow (today for those reading, ed.).” But it’s in the center of defense that the emergency hits hard. “Vitik and Casale are injured,” the coach lists the misfortunes. “Heggem is playing all the time, and we have to thank him. De Silvestri is out of the UEFA squad, and Lucumi has a tendon problem. Today (yesterday, for those reading this, ed.) Jhon started training, but then had to stop. We’ll see if the tendon pain eases in the next few hours, allowing him to play. Otherwise, we’ll have to adapt someone to his role.” And here all roads lead to Lykogiannis. “He’s already played that role,” he observes. “And then he’s physically fit and has speed. He’s certainly not accustomed to the mechanics of a professional center back, but he’s a potential candidate.” Whoever it’s up to: but the attacking wingers have to score. “I want them to be more attacking than wingers on the flanks,” Italiano concludes. “This team has a master at doing that: Orsolini.” Let’s keep the scripts coming.
Probable lineups and where to watch it on TV
CeELTA VIGO (3-4-2-1): 13 Radu; 32 Javi Rodriguez, 2 Starfelt, 20 Alonso; 5 Carreira, 16 Roman, 6 Moriba, 3 Mingueza; 18 Duran, 15 Zaragoza; 7 Iglesias. Bench: 1 Villar, 25 Villar M., 12 Fernandez, 17 Rueda, 21 Ristic, 24 Carlos Dominguez, 8 Fran Beltran, 14 Damian Rodriguez, 22 Sotelo, 23 Hugo Alvarez, 9 Ferran Jutglà, 10 Aspas, 11 Cervi. Coach: Claudio Giráldez.
BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): 13 Ravaglia; 2 Holm, 14 Heggem, 26 Lucumi, 33 Miranda; 6 Moro, 4 Pobega; 7 Orsolini, 80 Fabbian, 30 Benjamin Dominguez; 24 Dallinga. Bench: 82 Franceschelli, 25 Pessina, 20 Zortea, 22 Lykogiannis, 19 Ferguson, 21 Odgaard, 10 Bernardeschi, 11 Rowe, 28 Cambiaghi, 9 Castro. Coach: Vincenzo Italiano.
Stadium: Estadio Bailados
Referee: Petrescu (Romania)
Live: Sky
Hours: 21
CELTA VIGO: 3-4-1-2
