#SerieA Road Trip Personal Blog: Day 4, Bari-Pescara

I could not make a two-week trip to Italy without an obligatory stop in Bari (where my extended family still lives).

In turn, a stop in Bari could not preclude a stop at the San Nicola, especially if the galletti feature in an Adriatic Sea classic against Pescara.

Tickets in hand and my cousin at the wheel, I approached the stadium. "The Starship" as it's known around here, was already lit for the occasion and visible for miles. Hypnotized, we went to it.

After the ritual pregame panino and Peroni, we lined up and entered the stadium. Same check-ups that I witnessed at the Juventus Stadium: photo ID was checked against your ticket, then tickets were scanned by a bar code reader to ensure that you're entering the right part of the stadium, and bags were checked for illegal items.

A Tuesday night game cannot easily be well attended when many close shop at kick off or later, as only about 11,000 were present on hand. The atmosphere was entrusted, as always, to the Ultras Curva Nord, the boisterous supporters section, as they belted out pro-Bari and anti-Pescara chants. Before the game "Bari Grande Amore", the galletti's anthem, played over the PA system and the Ultras obliged:



The match featured one-way Bari traffic, with Pescara lucky not to concede. First half chances from Donati, Stevanovic (post), and Caputo came on a rather sleepy first half, until Pescara was awarded a penalty shot for a silly foul by Salviato. Memushaj's goal turned out to be Pescara's only shot on goal. 1-0 Pescara.

Bari didn't stand for it, mounting a siege that lasted for the remainder of the match. A repetition of chances - some shocking misses, like Stevanovic's miss on an open goal - confirm that Bari fully deserves at least a draw. Pescara was fully dedicated to defend, which they did neatly and with the maximum discipline - a testament to coach Baroni's discipline.

Just when all hope seemed to be lost, Stevanovic brushes a corner kick onto the head of the fresh substitute De Luca whose header beats an otherwise perfect Aldegani, Pescara's second goalkeeper, who had come on for the injured Fiorillo. 1-1 at the 89th minute.

The ensuing minutes provided little else was to be done despite Bari's best efforts, leaving the home crowd somewhat dissatisfied with the result but happy for the team's ability to create chances.

Overall, I found the San Nicola caverous and cold with only 1/6 of its capacity filled with spectators, and in clear need of a face lift. The clammy weather was made up for in part by Bari's warm and passionate fans, who made the night very colourful especially with comments that reached my ear about officiating, the state of the club, the coach, and the players.