Benevento vs Modena - Serie B

When Benevento and Modena clash at the home ground on August 22, 2026, the stakes extend well beyond a single result — this is a Serie B fixture that carries real weight for both clubs. Enzo Maresca verdict on Michael Carrick and Manchester United fixture issue - 'you need to adapt'.

Positionally there is a clear hierarchy: Benevento sit 13th, Modena lie 6th, but the Serie B has a habit of defying such logic. The hosts have struggled for consistency, W in their last five pointing to a win rate of 25%. Modena have travelled reasonably well, D over their last five with a season win rate of 50%. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Benevento average 1.25 per game to Modena's 1.5, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. Those who followed Morocco's recent World Cup campaign will recognise the name Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Set-piece efficiency could prove the difference on the night. Both Benevento and Modena have invested time in dead-ball situations this season, and a single corner or free-kick may settle it. Few of Bouaddi's age possess such a rare blend of physicality off the ball, and poise and balance in possession.

All eyes will be on the league's leading marksman C. Shpendi, whose 5 goals this season make him the standout threat and a player capable of deciding the outcome on his own. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. Tottenham signed the former Brighton star earlier this summer, and De Zerbi has now revealed how he messaged the defender to join the club after Brighton’s match against Everton.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. Given the balance of the numbers, Modena look capable of springing a surprise on the road — a 1-2 away victory is a distinct possibility. Whatever the outcome, the Serie B fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. And Fonseca does not place too much weight on the decision of Roberto Martinez to omit him from the World Cup squad in favour of his Benfica team-mate Tomas Araujo.