Siracusa vs Modica - Serie D - Girone I

The history between Siracusa and Modica lends this Serie D - Girone I fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at Stadio Nicola de Simone on September 27, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. O'Neill made five changes for Celtic's midweek win at St Johnstone as he rested some key players ahead of Sunday's clash.

There is plenty riding on this Serie D - Girone I encounter for Siracusa and Modica alike, and neither will want to leave Stadio Nicola de Simone empty-handed. Siracusa have been picking up results at a respectable clip, DDLLL over their last five with a season win rate of 50%. Road trips have been a source of frustration for the visitors — WL in their last five, a season win rate of 25%. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Siracusa average 1.75 per game to Modica's 0.75, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. If you're Arsenal and wanting to win the Premier League, and you take six points off those teams, then you're near-on winning the Premier League.

The tactical battle could prove decisive. Siracusa may lean on their home advantage to dictate the tempo, but Modica have shown they can be dangerous when allowed to play on their own terms. No wonder the skipper had talked of a 'new Aston Villa' in the pre-match press conference with what seemed like genuine excitement.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. The 6ft 5in defender continued to be around the first team and made the squad for both legs against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. Expect a tight, competitive affair that could easily end all square at 2-2. Whatever the outcome, the Serie D - Girone I fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. The club are understood to favour a profile closer to Aurelien Tchouameni or a Premier League‑proven alternative rather than Manu Kone.