The first match was good, but the draw was sweeter than bitter.

A draw more sweet than bitter. The red and white's league debut in Pineto delivered the results the club and coach were hoping for: the several new players acquired this transfer window not only represent the future but also the present. Starting in goal, Alessio Pozzi already offers guarantees of reliability when coming off the line, but the defensive trio in front of him has already proven to be well-established. Just as often happened last season, the red and white goalkeeper was a non-paying spectator for much of the match, thus resuming the good habit he began last year.

It was by no means a foregone conclusion that, with a defense deprived of its two key players, Riccardo Zoia and Davide Bove, due to injury, Stellone's boys would have conceded the home team only one shot on target, that of Germinario's wonder goal. Ceccacci, Di Renzo, and Primasso, in their own ways, contributed equally to rendering Pozzi inactive and to rendering harmless an Abruzzo offensive potential that had already been well-tested since last season.

Above the waist, Pineto has made very little change this transfer window, with the exception of Chakir, who joined Ascoli just a few hours ago. Bruzzaniti and his teammates, however, have only managed to gain a foothold in the Vissino penalty area on a few occasions, only managing to fire from the edge of the box once to score. Di Renzo, who prevailed in the center back duel against Vigliotti, the opposing striker who had recently replaced both Chakir and the departing Gambale (who was only reinstated in the squad at the last minute), was well supported by Andrea Primasso (born in 2005) and Mirco Ceccacci, who, after losing a few tense duels in his midfield in the first half, combined his constant attacking play with solid defense in the second half.

In midfield, while Paganini and Vezzoni immediately demonstrated their central role in the red and whites' play, Mariani, born in 2008, and Berengo, born in 2005, have surprised everyone. With their personality and quality, they have stood out in midfield, already revealing their full potential. Berengo is impetuous when advancing with the ball, while Mariani is precise and refined both in short exchanges and on his six corner kicks. Nina has also been surprising. After failing to find space in the red and whites last year, which ended with her loan to Spal, she is demonstrating her versatility in this first phase of the new season and is rapidly progressing towards a permeability that was by no means a given until a few weeks ago.

The chemistry that Stabile and Jallow's attacking duo has developed in just a few days is unpredictable. Complementary in every way, they've shown that doing without them this season will be difficult; Nicastro and Ferrari have been warned.

Lorenzo Mazzanti