Serie B round-up: Promotion and relegation battles go to wire

Date: 8th May 2021 at 12:30pm
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Salernitana moved closer to a Serie A promotion for the first time since 1998 with a 2-0 win over Empoli in Serie B’s penultimate Round.

Goals from on-loan duo Luka Bogdan and Andre Anderson saw I Granata to victory over the champions-elect meaning they will secure second place with a win over already-relegated Pescara on Monday.

Monza stayed in third place, with Mario Balotelli on the scoresheet in a 3-0 away win at Cosenza. The Silvio Berlusconi-owned side can still go up automatically they win their home Lombardian derby against Brescia on Monday and Salernitana lose or draw.

All the goals were scored in the first half in Lecce’s draw with Reggina. This means I Giallorossi are consigned to the playoffs but could still finish third if other results go their way on the final day. This could be crucial, with the highest-ranking side in each game having the significant advantage of only needing to draw to be victorious during the playoffs.

Venezia hold a two-point advantage in fourth following their 0-0 draw with Pordenone. Citadella lost 2-0 to Ascoli so they remain in fifth place.

Three teams, all currently with the same points total, will realistically be fighting for the final two promotion playoffs positions on the final day. Chievo’s 3-1 win over bottom side Entella kept them in seventh. A Florian Aye hat-trick helped Brescia win a 4-3 classic over Pisa and Le Rondinelle remain in eighth.

SPAL beat Reggiana 2-1 but remain outside of the playoffs in 9th. The Ferrara-based side will be in the playoffs if they beat or draw with Cremonese on Monday and one of Chievo or Brescia lose.

Reggina in tenth can sneak into the playoffs, but they need to beat Frosinone on Monday, all those above them to lose and a big swing in goal difference.

At the bottom, a quirk in Serie B’s rules means that there are only two teams left to fight in the relegation battle. 16th and 17th normally face a post-season relegation play-out to decide the final relegation place. However, if the 16th place side is more than five points clear of 17th at the end of the season, there is no play-out, and 17th is relegated.

Pordenone are seven points clear of Cosenza following their draw in matchday 37 and the Calabrian’s defeat. In an amazing coincidence, the two sides face each other in Udine on Monday. The maths is simple, Cosenza must win to force a play-out otherwise they are relegated to Serie C.

Round 37 results:
Ascoli 2–0 Cittadella
Brescia 4–3 Pisa
Cosenza 0–3 Monza
Cremonese 3–0 Pescara
Frosinone 1–1 Vicenza
Lecce 2–2 Reggina
Reggiana 1–2 SPAL
Salernitana 2–0 Empoli
Venezia 0–0 Pordenone
Virtus Entella 1–3 Chievo

Serie B standings:

 

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