The first group of Serie A fixtures in 2014 could be the start of a miraculous turnaround for Catania. They welcomed back Francesco Lodi, who was integral in the 2-0 victory over Bologna, and could be the saviour that the Rossazzurri have desperately needed.
Last season, Catania were notoriously dangerous on set pieces, thanks in large part to the deep lying playmaker. However, they have just two goals from those situations, the joint-lowest in the league. Lodi’s return immediately impacted that area of the team, as he delivered the free kick leading to Gonzalo Bergessio’s goal on Monday.
It was the Argentinean striker’s second goal of the campaign, and with his old teammate back in the lineup, he may be getting plenty more. Lodi created four chances, three of which were from set pieces. For the first time all year, Catania looked like a dangerous team.
One of the most irreplaceable players in the squad was the 29-year-old. He spoke highly for the club and their fans whilst at Genoa, signalling that he would return one day. Who knew that it would be a few months later?
The move not only benefits the squad, but the player himself. Lodi struggled mightily at Genoa, due mainly to the coaching changes and expectations put on his shoulders. His first three games looked promising, scoring twice and being one of the focal points in midfield, but he declined in his performances for the rest of the year.
Another phase in the Etnei’s game which was significantly worse than in previous seasons was the counter attack. It looked a lot slower and wasn’t as lethal as before. Part of that had to do with former winger Alejandro Gomez moving on, but Lodi was just as, if not, more crucial.
He can easily transition the play forward at a fast pace, allowing Pablo Barrientos and others to work their magic. It’s something that hasn’t been witnessed in 2013/14.
The stats in attack don’t lie. The most important of them all, goals, ranks 20th in Serie A. Yet despite that, they’re still two points away from safety. Considering the form of the teams around them, it’s entirely possible that the Elefanti could soar into a mid-table position.
Livorno are just as impotent up front as Catania. They haven’t won since November 3rd, a span of seven matches. They’ve earned just one point in that run. Despite playing well throughout the season, Sassuolo are winless in five. Bologna have just one victory in their last eight, and Chievo have been inconsistent.
That’s why the Rossazzurri have a lifeline. Not only have they received a confidence boost from Lodi, who’ll surely be the catalyst for a second half surge, but the clubs around them probably won’t put up much of a fight.
Atalanta, Fiorentina, Inter, Livorno, and Parma are their next five opponents. They could realistically win six to eight points in that stretch. By the time it ends, they may end up crawling out of the bottom three. If that’s the case, the sky’s the limit from there.
