Potenza 3–1 Nuovo Campobasso: Ten Man Grit Powers Rossoblù to Vital Serie C Victory

Potenza delivered a commanding performance under the floodlights at Stadio Alfredo Viviani, overcoming a second-half red card to defeat Nuovo Campobasso 3–1 in a pivotal Italian Serie C Group C fixture on 14 May 2026. The result strengthened Potenza's push for a playoff berth, while the visitors saw their faint promotion hopes take a serious blow.

Match Overview

From the opening whistle, Potenza imposed their will with high pressing and quick transitions. The home side’s 4-3-3 formation stretched Campobasso's defence, and they found the breakthrough early. Midfielder Andrea Di Grazia curled a superb left-footed shot from the edge of the box into the top corner in the 12th minute, sending the home crowd into raptures.

Campobasso struggled to find rhythm, and Potenza doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark. A slick one-two between striker Emanuele Gatto and winger Lorenzo Lollo split the visitors' backline, with Gatto slotting calmly past the goalkeeper.

The second half began with a shock for Potenza: defender Marco Ferrante received a second yellow card for a rash challenge in the 52nd minute, leaving the home side with ten men. Yet rather than retreat, Potenza pressed forward and scored a killer third goal in the 68th minute. Substitute Riccardo Saponara latched onto a long ball, shrugged off his marker, and fired a low drive into the far corner.

Key Moments

• 12' – Potenza 1-0: Di Grazia's curling opener from a half-cleared corner.
• 33' – Potenza 2-0: Gatto finishes after a flowing team move.
• 52' – Red Card: Ferrante sent off for a second bookable offence.
• 68' – Potenza 3-0: Saponara smashes home on the counter-attack.
• 81' – Campobasso 3-1: A late consolation header from centre-back Lorenzo Carissoni from a free-kick.

Tactical Story

Potenza manager Giuseppe De Luca set his side up to suffocate Campobasso's midfield diamond. By forcing errors through aggressive man-marking in the final third, Potenza created numerous chances. After the red card, they switched to a compact 4-4-1 formation, relying on rapid counter-attacks that eventually produced the third goal.

Campobasso, meanwhile, struggled with positional discipline. Their full-backs advanced high but left gaping spaces behind, which Potenza exploited ruthlessly. Despite dominating possession after the sending-off, the visitors lacked precision in the final pass and created only a handful of clear chances.

Standout Players

• Emanuele Gatto (Potenza): A goal and an assist, plus tireless hold-up play while down to ten men.
• Andrea Di Grazia (Potenza): Scored a stunning opener and pulled the creative strings from midfield.
• Lorenzo Carissoni (Campobasso): A late consolation and several key defensive interventions, but it wasn't enough.

Season Impact

The three points kept Potenza in fifth place in Serie C Group C, now just two points behind fourth-placed Avellino with two games remaining. For Nuovo Campobasso, the defeat dropped them to ninth, four points adrift of the playoff spots with only three matches left. Their hopes of a late charge now look remote.

Potenza will next face bottom side Foggia, while Campobasso must regroup for a tough home clash against Audace Cerignola.