It was a Sunday afternoon shaped by the bench and by the difference in conviction between the two sides. Abate’s team found important answers across the pitch, with the introductions of Vlasic and Kulenovic proving decisive in turning the match in their favour.
The coach and the club
Abate could take encouragement from a collective performance containing several strong individual displays. Bragança was among the standout figures, bringing quality and consistency to a side that had far more positive notes than negatives.
The decisive contribution, however, came after the interval through the changes. Vlasic and Kulenovic entered the contest and made the difference, giving Abate’s team the impact required to settle a match that demanded fresh energy and clearer ideas.
A difficult afternoon for the visitors
The visitors left with a much harsher assessment. There were too many underperformers and too little attacking inspiration throughout the game.
Unai Gomez endured a particularly difficult outing, unable to offer the spark his side needed. More broadly, the away team failed to produce the moments of invention that might have changed the course of the afternoon.
For Abate, this was a chapter built on the value of his squad: strong performances in the starting side, effective interventions from the bench, and a response that the visitors could not match.
