The Crotone Gazette
Match23 Sep 2026
Crotone through in the cup
A 1‑0 win over Casarano, and the draw for the next round can be watched with some interest for once.
Player ratings28 Sep 2026
Mattia Tordini beats them one at a time
Successful dribbles: 34. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.
Squad28 Sep 2026
A one-man rearguard from Davide Merelli
There were 9 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Player ratings28 Sep 2026
Luciano Pellegrini could not have asked for more on his first appearance — 7.74
Debuts are survived rather than enjoyed. This one was enjoyed: 7.74, 1 goals, and a manager already being asked whether he starts again next week.
Match23 Sep 2026
Cruel end for Casarano as Crotone pounce
There is no crueller way to lose a football match. Crotone scored in the 101th minute, the restart barely happened, and the away end was still standing when the whistle went.
Player ratings28 Sep 2026
Kevin Barcella, 20, plays like he has been here for years — 8.20
A mark of 8.20 means one thing beside a twenty-nine-year-old's name and something else entirely beside a 20-year-old's. Nobody at the ground needed telling which this was.
Squad28 Sep 2026
Words exchanged at Crotone
Matteo Maggio and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
The terraces28 Sep 2026
Crotone supporters have found a favourite in Luciano Pellegrini
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 14-year-old it feels ownership of. Luciano Pellegrini has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Player ratings28 Sep 2026
Ervin Bashi shuts the door
Defensive actions: 18, and a clean sheet at the end of it. A centre-half's best afternoons look like nothing happening, which is precisely the point.
In brief
- The dugout The manager makes an example of Mattia Novella
- Squad A row about effort at Crotone
- Squad Too much change too quickly at Crotone