Author: Marco Natali

St. George and the Dragon, the Choreography In SPAL-Bologna

Bologna, Serie A, Spal, Stands by Me
We are used to hear from the media that football ultras are violent and without any social culture. But right before last Saturday’s Derby dell’Emilia SPAL-Bologna at Paolo Mazza Stadium, Spallini supporters impressed the world of calcio with an amazing choreography inspired by the legend of Saint George and the Dragon, as depicted in a famous painting by Paolo Uccello from 1470, during in the Italian Renaissance.
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Sky Is Blue (and White) In Crotone as SPAL Win Relegation Battle

Crotone, Serie A, Spal
Crotone-SPAL, a fundamental match in the battle to avoid relegation, started as expected with Walter Zenga lining up his Sharks with a 4-3-3 formation, and a trident composed by Andrea Nalini, Igor Budimir, and Federico Ricci. SPAL’s Leonardo Semplici answered with a 3-5-2 featuring captain Mirco Antenucci together with Alberto Paloschi on the attacking line, and deploying Pasquale Schiattarella as playmaker.
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Throwback Thursday: How Ogliari’s Career Crashed Into Baresi

AC Milan, Serie B, Spal, Throwback Thursday
Milan come back to Paolo Mazza Stadium for the first time in 37 years tomorrow to face SPAL. It was April 12, 1981, when the Rossoneri last visited what was then known as Stadio Comunale of Ferrara. That match went down to history as it featured one of the most traumatic events for the home Biancazzurri: The injury occurred to Franco Ogliari, consequence of a horrific tackle by Franco Baresi.
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Stands by Me: SPAL-Inter Seen as a Biancazzurri Fan

Inter Milan, Serie A, Spal, Stands by Me
The Cult of Calcio correspondent and SPAL supporter Marco Natali was on the stands of Paolo Mazza Stadium in Ferrara yesterday, to see his dearest Biancazzurri snatching a point out of the hands of Inter. This is his recap of the match, seen with the eyes of a supporter. In our new column “Stands by Me,” we will leave room to the fans and listen to their football stories as lived from the stadium stands.
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