Prediction: Como vs Cittadella

Verdict: Como win

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: Luckster

Looking to take a giant step towards booking a famous Serie A ticket, Como will welcome Cittadella to the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Wednesday afternoon.

Como

Starting with the hosts, only continuing on what has been a stunning Serie B fairytale this season, Como are sat firmly in the driving seat to punch a famous top-flight ticket. Receiving a string of plaudits from across Italy and with the mood around the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia at a red-hot high, caretaker boss Osian Roberts will certainly be smelling the chance to make another statement here. Opening up the midweek fixtures holding a one-point buffer in the automatic promotion chase, the Lombardy-based outfit have collected 13 points from their five Serie B appearances since returning from March’s international break. Making a major statement of intent earlier in the month as they secured a 5-2 romp away at FaralpiSalo, Como have quickly gained a reputation for their clinical performances in the final third. Losing just one of their previous 10 consecutive second-tier appearances – a run that stems back to February 17th – the Blues are rightfully pencilled in as a standout contender here.

Team News

Dealing with a long-term muscle injury and not making a single appearance since opening the New Year, defender Matteo Solini remains on the sidelines and will not feature for the remainder of the season. Likewise, not featuring over the past couple of months, former Torino forward Ben Lhassine Kone will play no part here.

Notching 14 Serie B strikes this season and with only three second-tier players recording more goals, one-time Wolves misfit Patrick Cutrone will spearhead the Blues’ charge on Wednesday afternoon. Impressing since breaking into Roberts’ first-team plans over the past month, ex-Stuttgart star Federico Barba will partner Edoardo Goldaniga at the heart of Como’s defence.

Cittadella

As for the visitors, while Cittadella might still find themselves scrapping it out in the play-off chase, Edward Gorini’s men are in the midst of an extended rut. Suffering last-gasp heartbreak at home against FaralpiSalo over the weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate, the Maroons will be bracing themselves for a stern examination here. Now tipped as a real underdog contender to claim a top-eight finish, the Veneto-based outfit have remarkably recorded just a single victory from any of their previous 15 consecutive appearances. Coming under plenty of recent scrutiny since opening the New Year, Cittadella will also be concerned by their most recent showdown against Wednesday’s hosts. Hit with a routine 3-0 drumming when they welcomed Como to the Pier Cesare Tombolato for their reverse battle on September 24th, Gorini’s downbeat squad have also collected just a sole Serie B victory on their travels since the start of December.

Team News

Dealing with a recent injury issue and missing back-to-back appearances over the past fortnight, defender Domenico Frare remains a real doubt on Wednesday afternoon. Likewise, also dealing with his own respective knock and not featuring since the start of April, former Ascoli midfielder Enrico Baldini remains on the sidelines and will not travel to the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.

While Filippo Pittarello might have failed to notch a single strike across any competition since opening the New Year, the 27-year-old will spearhead Cittadella’s charge here. Continuing to receive plenty of recent plaudits, former AC Milan starlet Matteo Angeli will join Nicola Pavan at the heart of Gorini’s defence.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Como and Cittadella met for their reverse Serie B showdown on September 24th, Wednesday’s hosts picked up a routine 3-0 romp.
• Como have collected 13 points from their five Serie B appearances since returning from March’s international break.
• The Blues have suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous 10 consecutive Serie B appearances.
• Cittadella have played out a stalemate in six of their previous seven Serie B appearances.
• Likewise, Wednesday’s guests have collected just a single victory from any of their last 15 consecutive appearances – a run that stems all the way back to January 13th.

Conclusion

Continuing on what has been a real Serie B fairytale this season and riding a famous wave of momentum, Como will be confident of making another statement here. Mustering 13 points from their previous five top-flight appearances and suffering just a single defeat since the middle of February, Wednesday’s hosts are rightfully tipped as a standout contender in midweek. Likewise, landing a routine 3-0 romp when they met Cittadella for their reverse Serie B battle on September 24th, we are expecting a similar home victory.

Verdict: Como win

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: Luckster