Sunday’s Opponents: Pescara

It’s strange to think that halfway through the first game of the season that Pescara were two goals up against Napoli and the Stadio Adriatico was full of enthusiasm. The flame burnt out quickly for Pescara with the Abruzzo side never really in the running to stay up as their dreams quickly died. The season has been a prolonged form of sporting agony right up until the very end with a 5-0 win over Genoa during Zdenek Zeman’s fist game back the only positive as it briefly seemed that something might change in the second half of the season. In truth, it remains the only genuine win this year for Pescara with their other three points coming from a technicality. From 35 matches, they’ve lost 25. They have conceded 78 goals of which 15 have come in the first quarter of an hour. 34 players have represented the club this season and they have missed five out of seven penalties. There remains a strong possibility that they could break Treviso’s record from 2005/6 for being the worst team in a 20-team Serie A as they remain seven points behind their points tally.

The numbers are damning but there have been a few bright notes. Ahmad Benali has remained lively throughout the season and shown himself to be a dynamic and technical trequartista although he will be suspended on Sunday. Gianluca Caprari has shown glimpses of what he can do while Jean-Christophe Bahebeck offers pace. Alberto Cerri has looked like a physical centre-forward with a bright future. Since Zeman’s arrival, Pescara have lined up with a 4-3-3 formation and Vincenzo Fiorillo has taken the place of Albano Bizzarri in goal. Cesare Bovo has the tough task of leading a shaky defence where the full-backs Francesco Zampano and Cristiano Biraghi look good getting forward but are less certain when defending. Pescara actually move the ball around well in midfield but their serious problems come when defending their own area and when trying to find a way through at the other end.