PREVIEW - Amici Di Berto

THE BIG GAMES - Part One

Dunfermline take on 2nd placed Amici di Berto at their home ground of G.Mora Quarto on Sunday night, just one week after digging a two-point cushion over the Pegli-based outfit.
In fact, Berto had been on top of the table for pretty much the whole of the season until last Sunday, when they dropped two points against Compagnia delle Indie, following a 4-4 home draw.
With the next couple of games being absolutely pivotal to Dunfermline's hopes of snatching a top-two finish in the league, the boys will have to put their recent performances behind them, as nothing other than a brilliant collective display would guarantee that they remain where they've so long wanted to be - on top of the table, that is.

Both Semino and Perugini appear available for selection, although the odds are for Semino to start in goal, whereas the Perugia-born keeper could or could not play second fiddle to him, depending on the gaffer's requirements.
Frassinelli, Filippi and Buttitta should all be involved at the back, whilst there are no news, at present, preventing either Marletta, Bovalino or Di Noto from featuring.
Nonetheless, Borreani is likely to be called upon as well, as the critical stage of the season has been reached and all players will be sounded out in respect to their availability week in-week out.
Cantelli should most definitely start, following an impressive 5-goal display against dogged side Xeneixes, and Buccianti will be certainly called upon too, as well as Alberga, who didn't play any part in last week's win against Xeneixes, but should at least be guaranteed a bench slot.

The two sides only met once before, in what will be remembered as the first of a string of giant-killings performed by The Pars en route to climbing the table up to the position they've reached now.
On January 20th, 2008, Amici Di Berto temporarily lost their table-topping status following a smashing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Dunfermline, a game which showed how Dunfermline can be absolutely deadly when playing on wide pitches.
Cantelli's opener was cancelled off just before half-time by Christian Steiner, but Marletta produced a gem of a free-kick to re-establish Dunfermline's lead midway through the second half.
Buccianti added another in his customary style a few minutes later, before Marletta sealed a 4-1 win following some sloppy defending from Berto.

Things will be much different this time around, with The Pars now on a string of 16 games without a loss, but on a poor performance record, of late.
Obviously, the much narrower G.Mora pitch, which has proved difficult to handle for more than one opponent earlier this season, will somewhat restrict The Pars' free-flowing and attacking style of play, especially compared to when the sides met in reverse fixtures.

Grit, determination, togetherness and ambition are all factors the lads have struggled to show lately, however they're going to be thoroughly needed if the quest for promotion is to reach a positive ending.


PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

Amici di Berto 1, Dunfermline 4 (Cantelli, Marletta 2, Buccianti)


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