Serie B 2025-2026: Bari-Südtirol, the likely lineups

Hundred and eighty minutes for salvation: the curtain rises on Friday evening at the San Nicola Stadium on the Serie B playout between Bari and Südtirol, which will determine the fourth relegated to the third series along with Pescara, Reggiana and Spezia, already dropped having occupied the last three positions in the cadet championship. Kicking off at 8 p.m., referee Antonio Rapuano of the Rimini Section will direct.

Bari gained access to the playout with six points in their last two matches, the result of successes against Virtus Entella 2-0 at home and Catanzaro 3-2 away. For Moreno Longo’s team, this is the second participation in the salvation playoff in the space of three years: two seasons ago, the Biancorossi, pitted against Ternana, drew 1-1 at home before winning 3-0 at ‘Liberati’. The specter of C looms after a disappointing season, marked by the fans’ great protest against owner Luigi De Laurentiis.

Südtirol arrives at the playout after a nightmarish two months: until March, the Fabrizio Castori-led team was even in the playoff fight, then came just four points, the result of as many draws, in the last ten outings. The last success was the 4-0 away win against Reggiana, then the darkness: the Bolzano team must find the tangle again if they do not want to leave Serie B after four years, the first of which ended with a surprising participation in the promotion playoffs.

Probably Formations

BARI (3-5-2): Cerofolini; Mantovani, Odenthal, Nikolaou; Piscopo, T. Esteves, Maggiore, Pagano, Dorval; Rao, Moncini. All. Longo.

SÜDTIROL (3-5-2): Adamonis; El Kouakibi, Pietrangeli, Veseli; Molina, Tait, Tronchin, Casiraghi, Davi; Merkaj, Pecorino. All. Castori.