Brianza Break Vicenza Hearts Again—but Who Owns This Derby?

Emanuele Castellini put Lanerossi Vicenza ahead on Friday; a minute later, Michele Napoli had Brianza level. The home crowd had barely got to savour the lead before the old rivals were back at each other’s throats, and by half-time the visitors had seized the advantage they would keep: 2-1 in Italian Serie B.

Antonio Cortese supplied the decisive blow in the 44th minute, after coming on for Iván Osuna in the 15th. His goal capped a first half in which Brianza recovered from the shock of conceding and made the derby’s defining point: Vicenza can strike, but Brianza have lately been the ones to leave with the result.

Brianza won 1-0 at home on 14 December, took another 1-0 home win in May 2056, and won 2-1 away at Vicenza in December 2055. This time the margin was narrower than the visitors’ command of possession suggested, but the pattern held all the same.

Vicenza had only 32 per cent of the ball to Brianza’s 68, yet the hosts did not simply fold. Castellini’s finish gave them something to defend, and Fabrizio Scarpello kept offering a threat as Vicenza tried to turn the contest their way. The home side finished with eight shots and seven corners; Brianza had nine shots, hit the woodwork once and also won seven corners. The numbers do not make this a stroll. They do make clear that Brianza were able to impose themselves for long stretches and still had to withstand a fight.

Cortese was the game’s outstanding figure, with three key passes to go with his goal. Rivalries are not settled by a single match, and this one has never offered that easy a verdict. But if Vicenza want to stop hearing about Brianza’s recent superiority, they will have to change what happens on the pitch, not merely insist the rivalry is close.

The next meeting will bring its own argument. For now, the latest one belongs to Brianza.