League leaders Lecce travel this weekend to take on the fifth-ranked Cesena in a fiery clash between the top offense represented by the Salentini and the stingiest defence in the form of the Cavallucci Marini. The visitors will try to escape with at least a point as the other contenders for the top spots are all playing in relatively easier games.

Second place Ancona will play away to Cittadella in a tricky match as the home team only suffered a single defeat this season. The Dorici tend to travel poorly considering all their five losses this season came away from Stadio del Conero. The leaders will be relying on joint top-scorer Salvatore Mastronunzio, who has 12 goals, to grab all points from this encounter.

Sassuolo, in third place, will be looking to secure all three points at home and score as many goals as possible against bottom dwellers Salernitana who have yet to register an away win while leaking the most goals in Serie B.

Fourth place Empoli who have the best home record will head to Albinoleffe with the aim of improving on their mediocre results away from the Stadio Carlo Castellani. Modena, the sixth in the standings, will be away to Brescia who are solid at home but have not played to their true potential up to this point. Striker Andrea Caracciolo might be playing his last game for Brescia in front of the tifosi as a reported move to Fiorentina could occur during the January transfer window.

Frosinone will look to continue their revival as they visit Grosseto who have suffered a single home defeat and ran out winners away at Piacenza last week. Piacenza who are close to the relegation zone will be hosted by Triestina who have a solid home record and are led by forward Denis Godeas.

Inconsistent Torino who lost at home to Sassuolo at home last week will hope to get something from their visit to Vicenza. The Berici have drawn eight of nine home games while winning the other one which means it will not be an easy trip for Torino. Il Toro heavily rely on the division’s joint top scorer Rolando Bianchi who has 12 goals to his credit so far.

In other fixtures Gallipoli host Reggina in an evenly contested match whose outcome will be hard to predict while struggling Mantova, second from the bottom, will face Crotone who scored an impressive 4-2 win over Gallipoli in the last round. Mantova must win or their chances of survival will take another hit.

Ascoli – Padova
Mantova – Crotone
Cittadella – Ancona
Brescia – Modena
Albinoleffe – Empoli
Triestina – Piacenza
Vicenza – Torino
Sassuolo – Salernitana
Cesena – Lecce
Gallipoli – Reggina
Grosseto – Frosinone

Rami Soufi, Football Italiano