The Serie B relegation playoff between Ternana and Bari is set to be a thrilling encounter. The second leg, taking place at Stadio Libero Liberati, will determine which team retains their Serie B status.
Here's an in-depth look at the prediction, team news, form, and more for this crucial match.
Match Preview
The first leg of this relegation playoff ended in a 1-1 draw at San Nicola.
Gaston Pereiro's late equalizer for Ternana has set the stage for a nail-biting finish. Ternana needs only a draw in the second leg to stay in Serie B, thanks to the competition rules favouring the team that finished higher in the league standings in the event of a tie.
Ternana's Form and Strategy
Ternana's recent home form has been solid, with their last four matches at Stadio Libero Liberati yielding tight results.
They secured 1-0 victories over Cozenza and Catanzaro, drew 0-0 with Modena, and suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Ascoli.
Coach Roberto Breda is likely to adopt a cautious approach, knowing that a draw is sufficient for survival.
Bari's Challenge
Bari has shown resilience, going unbeaten in their last three games, including two wins at the end of the regular season.
However, their away form has been a concern, with their last road victory dating back to October 2023.
Federico Giampaolo's side will need to break this trend to avoid relegation.
Team News
Ternana
Filippo Distefano is expected to lead the attack, supported by Gaston Pereiro. The top scorer Antonio Raimondo will likely start on the bench.
Ternana will be without several key players, including Marco Capuano, Andrea Favilli, and Niklas Pyyhtia due to injuries.
Bari
Bari is facing injury concerns as well, with Giuseppe Sibilli doubtful after sustaining an injury in the first leg.
Long-term absentee Ilias Koutsoupias will not feature, and the team will also miss Abdoul Guiebre, Malcom Edjouma, and Davide Diaw.
Marco Nasti and George Puscas will need to step up in Sibilli's potential absence.
Prediction
Considering Ternana's strong home record and Bari's struggles on the road, Ternana is favoured to win this matchup.
We're expecting a low-scoring game, with Ternana likely to edge out Bari by a narrow margin.
Our Prediction: Ternana 1-0 Bari (Ternana win 2-1 on aggregate)
Bari 
Ternana 
