Curva Express / 35
Monza v Catanzaro...Brescia v Ascoli...Napoli in Budapest, Mantova in Paris...stadium plans updates...funky music...Italy in Luxembourg
Catanzaro nearly reached the sky in Monza as they almost managed to overturn the 2-goal deficit from the first leg in Calabria. But it wasn’t enough as Monza gained advantage from their better position in the final Serie B table. Officially, there were 2,300 away fans in the visiting supporters section but some more managed to break in. Fiorentina ultras were with them in the away end.
As Monza celebrated their immediate return to the top flight, the white and red ultras partied into the night in the Duomo square, then led the celebrations the following day as the team bus paraded through the city centre.
Brescia v Ascoli was suspended due to heavy rain and both teams returned to the field the following day just to play the remaining 30 minutes. With no away fans in sight (both curvas displayed the same banner in their respective cities saying “Restrictions loot our emotions / prisoners of your absurd decisions / with what courage do you call yourselves institutions?”), it was always going to take something away from the occasion. Nonetheless, the home ultras gave their best to generate the right atmosphere for the first leg of the playoff final. Their Milan friends were standing with them. Pics by faszination-fankurve.
It wasn’t to be for SPAL as Santegidiese eventually advanced to the Eccellenza playoff final. Despite this, it was a fantastic atmosphere in Giulianova even if the hosts were condemned to play another season at the fifth tier of the Italian football pyramid. The home ultras also displayed a banner for Viking Juve’s Marco (“same old story, same old impunity, the state defends your disgrace!”) Videos by A Fruttieri.
Curva Fiesole attended the Primavera final between Fiorentina and Parma at the Viola Park.
Napoli ultras were in Budapest as they sided with their PSG friends during the Champions League final with Arsenal.
Ultras Lazio have finally issued a statement defining their line of conduct for next season – no season tickets will be purchased and they will only attend away games (home games will be chosen depending on the occasion). They will attend both derbies too.
Roma ultras celebrated their return to the Champions League after a 7-year hiatus with a banner stating “Through the darkest nights and the Sundays of pain, this she-wolf has roared and now shines in Europe with honour” (ironically enough though, the she-wolf doesn’t roar but rather howls).
Meanwhile, in order to play at home their UCL games next season, Como have started the long (and windy) road of setting up their ground to meet Uefa regulations which prevent clubs from using scaffolding tubes.
This is their stadium plan and even the mayor granted that the city will make its best to adapt the Sinigaglia to Uefa standards – will they really make it on time? Meanwhile, Reggio Emilia has already been indicated by the club as their back-up plan (Atalanta have already played there their Europa and Champions League games).
Talking of stadium plans, how are Venezia and Taranto’s projects for their new grounds going? And how about Palermo’s redevelopment plans? Here’s some visual updates.
As Serie A fixtures are going to be released on Friday evening, there’s been a request to play the Milan derby on 19 September as it was on that day in 1926 that the San Siro was opened. Considering that the ground will soon be demolished after celebrating its Centenary, this is (finally) a romantic idea – let’s see whether it’s eventually made real.
After police coming onto the pitch in Bozen as Bari dramatically descended into Serie C, more trouble seems to be staking up in Puglia. The concession to use the San Nicola stadium expired last Sunday, and the City of Bari has formally notified the club of the situation in the next few hours. This bureaucratic step risks turning into a much larger problem. By 16 June, Bari must indicate the venue where they will play their home games for the 2026-27 season. Otherwise, they would even risk losing their sporting title, a scenario that worries fans. Despite this, depending on what happens with Juve Stabia, Bari could even be retrieved into the second tier (we’ll see what happens after 10 June).
Ilvamaddalena v Viareggio (Eccellenza playoff semifinals) in the Maddalena Archipelago (Sardinia)
In midweek, Ultras Italia were in Luxembourg for the national team’s friendly and displayed a banner which said “But what friendlies, our place was at the World Cup... Now we’re leaving, as always faithful to our ideals!”
The artist (and Toro ultra) Mauràs featured in the Torino Hooligans fanzine “A modo nostro”. Nice music in case you’d like to have a listen! No time no cash
Foggia special (thanks to our friend Luciano).
What we had missed: Ultras Mantova were in Paris where they attended the French Cup final with their friends from Lens
Matches to be excited about this weekend: Ascoli v Brescia, Aversa v Taranto (800 expected), Frassati v Pavia (900 expected), Serie A fixtures release
When we were kings: the Brescia v Ascoli deluge reminded us of the Atalanta v Reggina relegation playoff played in 2003. Back then, hail and heavy rain made the pitch unplayable, and referee Pierluigi Collina postponed the game to the Monday. Those Reggina ultras who had made the trip up north slept in a gym and were even well taken care of by their Bergamo counterparts.
Random sticker of the week: Parma
