Pescara vs Siena preview - Iachini wary of Pescara test

Posted Saturday, April 13, 2013 by PA

Siena coach Giuseppe Iachini admits Pescara are the last team his relegation-threatened club wanted to face at this stage of the Serie A season.

The Bianconeri enjoy a three-way share of 17th place with Genoa and Palermo to give the bottom four a unique aspect, with Pescara bringing up the rear on 21 points where they are six points clear of safety and preparing for relegation.

The Delfini, however, pushed league leaders and champions-elect Juventus all the way in Turin last weekend, only succumbing to a 2-1 defeat when defender Giuseppe Rizzo was dismissed towards the end.

Iachini understands their desperation all too well and is warning his players to be on their guard at the Stadio Adriatico.

He told La Repubblica: "It's the hardest game we could have hoped for, just look at how much they made Juventus suffer.

"They are looking good out on the pitch and they have a mix of individual skill and experience.

"We need to handle the game with great organisation and pay the opponent a lot of respect."

Defender Carlos Matheu is Iachini's only injury concern while Pescara miss Rizzo and midfielder Birkir Bjarnason through suspension.

"When it comes to our performance levels then we are making the most of our potential," Iachini added. "However, we need to be more decisive in front of goal.

"We have not achieved anything yet. There are seven games left and we have to take each one as it comes.

"All we know is that we find ourselves competing on a par with Genoa and Palermo. We didn't think we'd find ourselves in this position."

For Pescara boss Cristian Bucchi the match is the last real opportunity his side have to claw themselves back into contention.

He told Gazzetta.it: "What chance do we have of staying up? I would say five per cent, and I'm taking luck into account.

"It's still something we could do, though and it's not mathematically impossible. If we want to keep hanging onto any kind of hope, we have to beat Siena at all costs on Saturday."