Athletic Carpi vs Cittadella - Serie C - Girone A

A fascinating Serie C - Girone A chapter awaits on September 13, 2026 when Athletic Carpi take on Cittadella at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. The 74-year-old Hoops boss admitted that "it'll be a bit strange not having the (Celtic) fans in but I'm nervously and excitedly looking forward to it; it's a great fixture" and also spoke about the police visit.

Positionally there is a clear hierarchy: Athletic Carpi sit 11th, Cittadella lie 1st, but the Serie C - Girone A has a habit of defying such logic. The hosts have mirrored the form of a side still searching for rhythm — LWDL over their last five, a win rate of 25%. On the road, Cittadella have been equally impressive — WLWDL in their last five and a win rate of 100% for the campaign. Where Athletic Carpi have leaned on defensive discipline, Cittadella have often taken the initiative going forward, and that stylistic difference should shape the contest. Arsenal also saw the importance of having good depth at right-back when Mosquera was forced to start the Champions League final with PSG out of position - which then resulted in the young Spaniard conceding a penalty.

Set-piece efficiency and transition play often decide fixtures of this nature, and both managers will have been drilling those phases on the training ground. After the loss, a lot of questions began to be raised about their different approach to preparing for the game.

Star players on both sides will be eager to make their mark, and the individual duels across the pitch could go a long way to deciding the outcome. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. The one thing I've noticed about Tottenham over the last few years is they never had a dominant midfielder.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. Given the balance of the numbers, Cittadella look capable of springing a surprise on the road — a 2-3 away victory is a distinct possibility. With positions in the Serie C - Girone A table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. All I ever wanted to do was win a championship for the New York Giants.” Beckham Jr is likely to play in the Giants’ first preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium next weekend.