Italian football news: Siena 3-2 Bari
Rivas 13 (B), Ghezzal 17, 62 (S), Castillo 22 (B), Rosi 67 (S)
Stadio Franchi
Siena twice fought back to secure a shock victory over Bari that might be too late to avoid relegation.
Time is running out for Siena and they welcomed high-flying Bari in a desperate bid to keep hope alive. The visitors were missing long-term absentees Andrea Ranocchia, Mariano Donda, Sergio Almiron, Massimo Donati and Vitali Kutuzov. Robur had to do without Luca Rossettini, Francesco Parravicini, Daniele Ficagna and the suspended Emilson Sanchez Cribari.
Bari took the lead with a well-worked goal after 13 minutes. Paulo Vitor Barreto sprung the offside trap and had all the time in the world to roll across for the totally unmarked Emanuel Rivas to side-foot home.
The situation did not last long, as moments later Abdel Ghezzal burst into the box and hit a missile on the bounce that flashed past a helpless Jean-Francois Gillet.
The visitors restored their advantage with Barreto again the provider, this time rolling across for Nacho Castillo to beat Gianluca Curci at the second attempt.
Siena fought back once more, but this time Leonardo Bonucci did just enough to stop Marcelo Larrondo nodding in Massimo Maccarone’s cross. Gillet flew across the face of goal to deny a Ghezzal right-foot snapshot.
Both goalkeepers were kept busy by a series of great chances just before the break. Gillet needed a desperate reaction save to keep out Reginaldo from six yards and 60 seconds later Curci parried Castillo’s strike with yet another Barreto assist.
Maccarone’s free kick was smothered on the line, but Ghezzal made the most of a defensive slip on the edge of the area. Without hesitation he lobbed the goalkeepeer to complete his brace.
Gillet anticipated Maccarone and accidentally handed the ball to Larrondo, but Bonucci was back there to protect the open goal.
Siena completed the comeback by taking the lead! A goalline clearance denied the first strike from Del Grosso, but Bari could do nothing on Aleandro Rosi’s follow-up from a couple of yards.
Siena: Curci; Rosi, Pratali, Odibe (Malago’ 46), Del Grosso; Vergassola, Tziolis; Reginaldo (Calaio’ 55), Ghezzal, Maccarone; Larrondo (Jajalo 85)
Bari: Gillet; Belmonte, A Masiello, Bonucci, S Masiello; Rivas (Koman 40), De Vezze (Allegretti 70), Gazzi, Alvarez; Barreto (Gosztonyi 77), Castillo
Ref: Mazzoleni
Sienna is a great team… They have the same caliber with milan… I can’t wait to see MILAN vs SIENNA again… it would be a nice match..
Currently Siena is 2nd at the bottom of the table in SERIE A… They should improve in order to stay in Serie A. If they can’t do that, I think we will no longer see them in Serie A next season. They’re on the relegation spot so they should win the remaining match in order not to be relegated.