Bari’s Bumper Crowd for Salernitana Clash Signals Serie B’s Growing Appeal
By Editor DC
Bari against Salernitana was the main attraction during the latest round of Serie B fixtures after the historic twinning between the two sets of fans helped propel their clash to the top of the attendance table.
More than 24,000 supporters watched the action at the San Nicola on Saturday evening as the sides fought out a goalless draw.
The exact figure of 24,425 included 4,000 travelling Granata supporters and a banner in the stadium read ‘Seafarers… Salerno and Bari epochal twinning… until death do us part.’
Gemellaggio – which translates as twinning – is when bonds are formed based on shared experiences or political beliefs and is common in Italy between groups of ultras.
Bari’s attendance, the third-biggest Serie B crowd of the campaign and considerably more than their season average of just under 16,000, pushed Palermo’s home clash with Cremonese into second place for game week 30.
Almost 24,000 spectators filed into the Stadio Renzo Barbera on Friday night to watch Cremonese fight back from two down late on to win 3-2. Both games, as well as Cesena vs Spezia, were shown live on Destination Calcio TV over the weekend.
Palermo’s 1-1 draw at home to Cosenza back in September remains the biggest crowd of the season with 25,787 watching that one while Sampdoria entertaining Palermo earlier this month drew 25,323.
Overall, attendances are up on last year with the average Serie B gate this season standing at 9,482 compared with 9,144 across 2023-24. The standout fixture in terms of crowd size last season was Como’s trip to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris to face Sampdoria, with more than 31,000 turning up.
On Saturday, the point for Bari was enough to leapfrog Palermo into eighth place in the table – the final spot for a play-off – while Salernitana remain second from bottom heading into the international break. Cremonese stay fourth.
In what promises to be a thrilling finale to the campaign, there is plenty to play for at both ends of the table with eight rounds of fixtures left.
Leaders Sassuolo have clear daylight to closest challengers Pisa but the race for that second guaranteed promotion spot, as well as the battle for the play-off places, look set to go to the wire.
At the bottom, Cosenza sit five points adrift but just five points separate 19th-placed Salernitana and Modena in 10th.
Catch the full match replays and highlights for Palermo vs Cremonese and Bari vs Salernitana on tv.destinationcalcio.com today.
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