Serie B focus: Who's on the way to the 'A'

With just five rounds of the Serie B remaining I though it's time we took a look at who is likely to be joining the big boys of Serie A.

Brilliant Bari
Currently Bari are still top of the Serie B as they were the last time I dedicated a post to this subject. They had a great win against Albinoleffe away 4-1 at the weekend and currently sit on 72 points, five points clear of second placed Parma and 13 points clear of third placed Livorno. Indeed , one more win or a Livorno defeat would assure Bari of automatic promotion so they look relatively certain to be in Serie A next season. Its a positive time in Bari, as attendances up are to a respectable level also and look set to rise. Last season, they had an average gate of just under 4,000. Pitiful for a club with their history, but now attendances have risen to an average of just under 14,000, with their game against Parma getting a gate of 40,593. This would be welcomed in Serie A, as attendances their are on the rise also.

Well placed Parma
Parma also look well placed for a return to Serie A. The only side still unbeaten at home, Parma continued their good form by picking up another point in a home 0-0 draw against Salernitana. Currently on 67 points Parma boast perhaps the most leathal strike force in Serie B, with Lucarelli, Paloshi and new boy Vantagiatto having 37 goals between them. With an eight point lead of Livorno, don't be surprised to see them back in Serie A next season. The big question will be if they can stay where they belong and develop as Genoa, Sampdoria and Napoli have done in recent season. Much will depend upon whether they can keep boy wonder Paloshi, or whether he will return back to Milan to link up with Pato.

A playoff situation?
A playoff situation will likely occur to see who gets the much coveted third spot unless the third placed team can get ten points clear of the fourth placed team to earn a spot automatically. This seems unlikely, as Livorno, Brescia, Sassuolo, Albinoleffe and Grossetto are all within 5 points of each other and all will fancy their chances to get into the top six places and secure a place in the playoff games. You would have to fancy Livorno though to bounce straight back up to Serie A again with top goal scorer Tavano, the former Valencia and Roma man, leading the way on 21 goals. Whatever happens, I would expect to see him in Serie A next season somewhere.