Padova, Italy – Padova suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to Catanzaro on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in a Serie B clash at the Stadio Euganeo. Following the match, Padova manager Matteo Andreoletti acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, particularly in the technical department, even as praising their overall attitude. The loss leaves Padova battling to secure their position in Italy’s second tier.
“The analysis is correct,” Andreoletti said in the post-match press conference, as reported by PadovaCalcio.it. “It’s a shame because we really wanted to get a result today, but they aren’t where they are in the standings by chance. I have little to criticize the lads for; we tried, even to press high, but they have a very high technical level and punished us at the first opportunity. I consider we could have done better technically, but in terms of attitude, we were there today.”
Catanzaro’s victory underscored their strong form this season, establishing them as a formidable opponent in Serie B. The team’s confidence and technical ability proved decisive in breaking down Padova’s defense. Andreoletti recognized the quality of Alberto Aquilani’s side, stating, “Catanzaro are a strong team, they aren’t in that position in the league table for no reason. They are a confident side, with great technical quality and capable of putting you in difficulty.”
Despite the disappointment of the result, Andreoletti was encouraged by his players’ initial approach to the game. “The approach was what we had asked for: courageous and aggressive. We even tried to raise the press to capture the ball from them. We didn’t always succeed, but the spirit was right,” he explained. However, he conceded that this positive start wasn’t enough to overcome Catanzaro’s technical superiority.
The second half proved to be a turning point, with Andreoletti identifying a lack of composure as a key factor in Padova’s decline. “The biggest mistake today was in the second half,” he stated. “The correct result at halftime would have been a draw, but in the second half, they started very strongly and we weren’t good at reading the moment. We forced the play from the back and they thrived in those minutes. It wasn’t that we needed to start stronger; we needed to read the game better and uncover countermeasures. If we had managed that moment, we could have stayed in the game. They are a really strong opponent and I’m sorry for how we lost.”
Padova’s recent form has been a concern, with just nine points collected from their last ten Serie B matches. With the threat of relegation looming, Andreoletti acknowledged the increasing pressure to secure points. “The margin for error is getting smaller and smaller, but the 34 points we have earned weren’t given to us,” he emphasized. Looking ahead, Padova face a challenging run of fixtures, including a crucial derby match.
The upcoming schedule presents a significant test for Padova, particularly with a match against league leaders Venezia on the horizon. Andreoletti stressed the importance of maintaining intensity and unity within the squad. “It’s clear that facing strong teams like today’s opponent is more difficult. I know we now have a very tough run of three games, but we must not lose our intensity and our unity. We have to roll up our sleeves to face a very difficult match against what is probably the strongest team in the league, Venezia. However, we shouldn’t be concerned with how strong they are; we need to get points. It will be crucial to snatch something even in the most complicated games.”
Addressing concerns about the team’s composure, Andreoletti dismissed the idea that the defeat would have lasting repercussions. “No, we mustn’t have those thoughts. We knew from July that it would be a challenging path. Beyond the others, today we must start from where we are at this moment.”
The match also saw some frustration from Padova players regarding refereeing decisions. Andreoletti, however, was quick to deflect blame, stating, “It’s not the time to look for excuses. We can’t think about how things would have gone if the referee had made different choices. We know we lost to a strong opponent and we had to be better. Now we need to think about not wasting energy: in three days there is a very heated derby and we must head to battle on their field.”
Regarding individual performances, Andreoletti commented on forward Caprari, acknowledging the high expectations surrounding the player. “The expectations on him are very high: sufficiency is not enough, because players like him are always expected to do more. He needs to play and find the best condition. The idea of going into the field with two forwards was already there at the beginning of the week and helps us to have more solutions. We must try to enhance all the resources: Caprari will certainly help us to achieve salvation.”
The manager confirmed that all substitutions made during the match were tactical decisions and not due to any physical issues. He also acknowledged that making changes late in the game might have been risky, but justified the decisions based on player fatigue and the upcoming schedule. “I believe that, reasoning about the match and the next ones, it makes little sense to make changes ten minutes from the end. As soon as I see someone tired at this moment, I think We see right to change. Di Maggio and Buonaiuto came in very well, Silva is improving and will be able to express himself even better.”
When questioned about the possibility of starting with two forwards against Venezia, Andreoletti remained non-committal. “I don’t know. We need to think about bringing the spirit we saw today onto the field, not the one in Avellino. We will evaluate who will play and how to play after choosing the game strategy. The double forward can be a solution, but I am not able to say if we will play like that now.”
Padova’s next challenge is a highly anticipated derby match, promising a fierce contest and a crucial opportunity to climb the Serie B table. The team will need to regroup and rediscover their form if they are to secure a positive result and ease their relegation fears. The match against Venezia, following the derby, will further test Padova’s resolve as they navigate a difficult period in the season.
What’s Next: Padova travels to face a rival team in the highly anticipated derby on [Date to be confirmed – check PadovaCalcio.it for updates]. Following the derby, they host league leaders Venezia on [Date to be confirmed – check PadovaCalcio.it for updates].
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