Soccer: I became Bruno Fernandes.

Chapter 30: The Championship Battle Ends Prematurely

On May 11th at 3 PM, the 41st round of Serie B saw nine matches kick off simultaneously, including two spotlight games. League leader Novara was away at Vercelli, and second-placed Sassuolo faced Lanciano on the road. Normally, these mismatched confrontations wouldn't be the focal point of the round.

Vercelli, Novara's opponent, was already relegated, standing at 21st in the league—8 points behind the 19th placed Ascoli—rendering the match essentially meaningless for them, serving only as a battle for dignity. Sassuolo's opponent, Lanciano, ranked 17th and also a weaker team, was not a real challenge for Sassuolo, a long-time leader of the leaderboard. However, Lanciano, just one point above the relegation playoff zone, was likely more motivated than Vercelli.

The Italian media and betting companies were favoring Novara given the state of their opponents. However, the relegated underdogs Vercelli proved not to be an easy match for Novara.

The Vercelli Football Club was one of the most successful Italian clubs in the early 20th century, winning seven league titles from 1908 to 1922, though they had since fallen to near relegation to Serie C. Facing mighty Novara, Vercelli showed fierce spirit in what was called a derby match.

Vercelli and Novara are neighboring cities, only 20 kilometers apart, though they belong to different provinces. The saying "familiarity breeds contempt" fits their relationship, as it has never been friendly. Vercelli, once considering themselves the aristocrats of Italian football, has always looked down on their lower-league neighbors Novara. An incident at the end of the last century involving the legendary Silvio Piola, who scored a record 274 goals in Serie A, worsened their relations. Piola started his career at Vercelli but had to move to Lazio due to financial issues at Vercelli, who were then relegated and never returned to Serie A. Post-World War II, Piola joined Novara, helping them reach Serie A. Both clubs later named their stadiums after him, which only fueled the rivalry as fans were reminded of their shared but contentious history.

With Novara's recent rise and their stint in Serie A, Vercelli's fans were especially displeased as Novara challenged again for Serie A promotion and even the Serie B title.

Determined to disrupt Novara's momentum, Vercelli resisted Novara's attacks robustly in the match, even taking a lead in the 31st minute through a veteran defender's header from a corner. This goal unleashed mockery from the Vercelli fans, particularly since Sassuolo was leading 2:1 against Lanciano at that time. Novara had fallen to second place in the real-time league standings.

However, their joy lasted less than 10 minutes. By the 33rd minute, Novara had equalized through a penetrating pass from Bruno in midfield, leading to a goal by forward Gonzalez, assisted by Razari. Vercelli's disappointment deepened when Sassuolo was held to a draw by Lanciano at the 41st minute, reviving hopes for Vercelli fans but only temporarily.

By halftime, both matches were drawn: Vercelli 1:1 Novara, Lanciano 2:2 Sassuolo. Novara led the league with 83 points, one point above Sassuolo. Verona was also closing in, having led 1:0 against Stabia, moving to third with 81 points. Livorno had won 3:0 against Brescia the previous day, securing fourth place with 80 points. The championship race had become a battle among the top four teams, with even the direct promotion spots yet to be confirmed, thrilling neutral fans but agonizing supporters of the contending teams.

In the second half, Verona was the first to secure a win, bolstering their position with two additional goals and benefiting from their opponent's red card. Meanwhile, Novara and Sassuolo's matches remained unchanged until the strategic substitution by Novara's coach. Introducing young forward Ribetachi from Juventus' youth system, known for his aerial prowess, paid off. In the 81st minute, Bruno's precise cross found Ribetachi for a decisive header, putting Novara ahead 2:1.

The atmosphere at Vercelli's Piola Stadium grew somber, except for the corner filled with Novara's ardent fans celebrating passionately. Unfortunately, their small numbers couldn't make much of an impact overall.

Meanwhile, Sassuolo struggled to regain the lead in Lanciano, and their match ended 2:2, reflected on the scoreboard with the home team listed first as per convention.

With these results, Novara solidified their lead in Serie B with 85 points, three points ahead of second-placed Sassuolo. They also held a significant advantage in goal difference, with 48 goals compared to Sassuolo's 36. Essentially, the battle for the Serie B championship had concluded a round early, as Sassuolo's only hope to claim the title was for Novara to lose heavily in their final match, a scenario looking increasingly improbable.

(End of Chapter)

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