Framed #176: SPAL v Brescia

“Why always me?” Well Mario, it’s because talking points are never far behind where you’re concerned, and that was once again the case as Brescia took on SPAL in what was a proper relegation scrap in Serie A. And it just so happens that we were in attendance at the Stadio Paolo Mazza fro make it the latest instalment of our ‘Framed’ series.

Brescia were at rock bottom of the Serie A table heading into this match, with a mere seven points from their opening 13 games. SPAL weren’t fairing much better mind, finding themselves one position higher with a total of nine from 14. So when the two faced each other this weekend – their first top-flight encounter since the 60s – it was all on the line, with nothing but a win being acceptable for both sides.

In somewhat unorthodox circumstances, the match saw Eugenio Corini returning to the Rondinelle bench a mere month after he was sacked by the club. His replacement, Fabio Grosso, was axed thanks to his tally of three consecutive defeats without scoring a single goal. Including Corini’s previous tenure, it saw Brescia with an unenviable six defeats on the bounce.

And as if to further compound the confusing state of play behind the scenes at Brescia, just five days after club president Massimo Cellino said that Mario Balotelli could leave the club on a free transfer in January because he was not suited to a relegation scrap, the enigmatic Italian popped up on the scene to score the only goal of the game. Psychological masterstroke from Mr Cellino, or just sod's law, you decide.

The home fans were in raptures just after the half-hour mark, when Jasmin Kurtic volleyed in from close range only to be denied by the offside flag, and it was shortly after half-time that Balotelli stepped up for his moment, tapping in from an angle after two previously saved attempts from his teammates. But that wasn’t the end of the action. There was still time for SPAL to earn a penalty through substitute Alberto Paloschi, only to see Jesse Joronen save well, much to the home crowd’s despair.

The result saw Brescia leapfrog their opponents, much to the delight of the travelling support, with Super Mario appearing suited to the scrap after all.