The Coppa Italia 2020-2021 kicked off between yesterday and today as 36 clubs from Serie C and minor divisions squared off in single-leg games for the First Round of the competition. Although the level of play might not have been the highest, there were a few glorious clubs involved who have recently fell in disgrace – including former Serie A participants Bari, Catania, and Livorno.
In one of the most hard-fought match of the day, Alessandria beat Sambenedettese 3-2. The home side Grigi – who gained national attention in 2016 as they managed to reach the Coppa Italia Semi-Finals while playing in the third division – prevailed over the Rossoblu side coached by former Juventus legend Paolo Montero after captain Maxi Lopez – he himself a former Serie A player – was sent off before half time.
Small Lombardy club Renate won against much more-famous Avellino in what was the upset of the day. Similarly, Livorno unexpectedly lost 1-2 to Pro Patria. Catania’s home loss to San Nicolò Notaresco, in a match that started with a 45-minute delay due to a rainstorm that hit the Aetnean city, was even more surprising.
The Abruzzo side, who plays in the fourth division and comes from a small 7000 inhabitants town, will thus face Pescara in the Second Round in what will be an intriguing regional derby.
Feralpisalò beat Pineto with a lone goal as the Leoni del Garda contributed to divert the mind of their president Giuseppe Pasini, who yesterday received an anonymous letterbomb – likely in view of his role as president of a provincial division of the General Confederation of Italian Industry.
Below the results of the Coppa Italia First Round:
Pontedera-Arezzo 1-2
Carrarese-Ambrosiana 4-0
Catania-San Nicolò Notaresco 1-2 (a.e.t.)
Monopoli-Modena 1-0
Alessandria-Sambenedettese 3-2
Renate-Avellino 2-1
Novara-Gelbison Cilento 3-1
Piacenza-Teramo 1-2
Livorno-Pro Patria 1-2
Padova-Breno 2-0
Feralpisalò-Pineto 1-0
Ternana-AlbinoLeffe 1-2
Juve Stabia-Tritium 2-1
Bari-Trastevere 4-0
Carpi-Casarano 1-3 (a.e.t.)
Potenza-Triestina 0-2
Sudtirol-Latte Dolce Sassari 2-1
Catanzaro-Virtus Francavilla 2-1
The Second Round of the Coppa Italia will be played on September 30 and fill feature 20 single-leg matches including the 20 Serie B clubs plus Perugia and Trapani (who were relegated to Serie C last season), on top of the teams that won the First Round.
Serie A clubs will start coming into play in the Third Round, which will be held on October 28.