When it comes to Bari, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Taking the Serie B table at face value would suggest the Galletti are meeting expectations this season, if not exceeding them.

Seventh in the table, the Pugliesi trail fourth-placed Cremonese, who visit the San Nicola on Saturday, by seven points and are firmly in the race for a play-off spot.

A remarkable turnaround for a club that avoided dropping into Serie C only via the relegation play-offs last season and had to operate on a shoestring budget during the summer.

Bu there are striking parallels between their run this season compared with their form last term. Bari have 33 points in 25 matches, exactly as they had at the same stage of the season 12 months ago when they had also drawn 12 of their fixtures, lost six and won seven.

Just as was the case then, the Galletti are relatively solid defensively but struggle to score goals. With 28 goals to their name, Bari have the second-worst attack of any team in the Serie B top 10, but only Spezia and Pisa have conceded fewer than their 25 so far this season – three of which came in the defeat against Juve Stabia on Sunday.

Last year, Bari’s 27 goals in 25 matches was the second-worst return in the top half of Serie B, while their 29 goals conceded was the second-best tally in the league. Plus ça change.

And yet, the perception is that Bari are having a far better season than their last, which so nearly culminated in relegation. Partly that is down to the fact the Pugliesi were on the brink of Serie C and partly because Longo has done such a fine job to steady a rocky ship.

But while there is no suggestion Bari will endure the dramatic slide that nearly did for them last season, can they now push on and at least cement a play-off spot? If last Sunday’s performance against Juve Stabia is anything to go by, the answer may be a resounding no.

The Galletti were second-best in every facet as they suffered their first defeat since Boxing Day and could have fallen out of the play-off race had it not been for Spezia’s two late goals against Palermo. As it stands, the Rosanero remain two points behind Bari who, as Longo noted, are in charge of their own destiny when it comes to the play-offs.

“We’re staying focused on our goals,” he said. “Our aim is to be in the title race until the very end. With 13 games remaining, there’s still plenty to play for.”

Bari welcomed Nicholas Bonfanti on loan from Pisa in the January transfer window along with Giulio Maggiore and Gaston Pereiro from Salernitana and Genoa respectively, but Longo cautioned against expecting an immediate impact from the new arrivals.

“These new signings will strengthen our squad, he said. “But we need to ensure they settle in quickly.”

Like Bari, Cremonese have been active in the January transfer window, signing Frosinone midfielder Francesco Gelli on loan along with Sudtirol goalkeeper Giacomo Drago, while centre-back Francesco Folino and midfielder Mattia Valoti arrived from Juve Stabia and Monza respectively.

While the Galletti may be looking over their shoulders, the Grigiorossi have their sights set firmly ahead as they look ensure the gap from third-place Spezia doesn’t swell past the 14-point threshold that would ensure play-offs aren’t required.

The Ligurians remain nine points ahead of Cremonese, who have won three of their last four matches and have lost just twice since Giovanni Stroppa was re-appointed in mid-November after leaving the club at the beginning of October following three defeats, three draws and two wins in the opening eight fixtures.

While Bari have struggled for goals, Cremonese have had no such problems and have the fourth-best attack in the division with Franco Vazquez rolling back the years at the age of 35 to score nine goals in 24 appearances and Manuel De Luca adding four of his own.

Half of that tally came on Sunday as De Luca came off the bench to sink Sudtirol 3-1 with a brace in the final 15 minutes and keep their promotion bid alive. More of the same will be needed at the San Nicola if the Grigiorossi are to keep their play-offs hopes alive.

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