Match report

Spezia Stuns Cesena with Late Comeback in Serie B

Cesena
Cesena
2–3
FT
Spezia
Spezia
Feb 21, 2026

Spezia managed to secure a crucial victory against Cesena with three second-half goals, overturning an initial two-goal deficit. The match was marked by early yellow cards for both sides and several substitutions that altered the course of the game.

Key Facts

  • • Cesena opened the scoring through C. Shpendi in the 4th minute, with an assist from Gianluca Frabotta.
  • • Spezia equalized when G. Artistico scored at the 17-minute mark, assisted by A. Bellemo.
  • • T. Berti extended Cesena's lead to 2-1 in the 53rd minute.
  • • G. Aurelio and G. Artistico found the back of the net for Spezia with goals in the 67th and 75th minutes, respectively.

Lineups

Cesena

Formation: 3-5-2

Starting XI

  • 33 Jonathan Klinsmann (G)
  • 15 Andrea Ciofi (D)
  • 16 Peter Amoran (D)
  • 24 Massimiliano Mangraviti (D)
  • 11 Riccardo Ciervo (M)
  • 14 Tommaso Berti (M)
  • 4 Michele Castagnetti (M)
  • 70 Matteo Francesconi (M)
  • 99 Gianluca Frabotta (M)
  • 7 Alberto Cerri (F)
  • 9 Cristian Shpendi (F)

Substitutes

  • 26 Matteo Piacentini
  • 23 Vittorio Magni
  • 27 Tommaso Corazza
  • 32 Marco Olivieri
  • 22 Giacomo Vrioni
  • 1 Alessandro Siano
  • 40 Luca Ferretti
  • 18 Matteo Guidi
  • 25 Dimitri Bisoli
  • 35 Davide Zamagni
  • 10 Simone Bastoni
  • 17 Ibrahima Papa Wade

Spezia

Formation: 3-5-2

Starting XI

  • 22 Boris Radunović (G)
  • 4 Marco Ruggero (D)
  • 37 Aleš Matějů (D)
  • 94 Giovanni Bonfanti (D)
  • 17 Leonardo Sernicola (M)
  • 6 Alessandro Bellemo (M)
  • 60 Alessandro Romano (M)
  • 70 Emanuele Adamo (M)
  • 11 Pietro Beruatto (M)
  • 9 Gabriele Artistico (F)
  • 90 Laurs Skjellerup (F)

Substitutes

  • 34 Christian Comotto
  • 32 Luca Vignali
  • 31 Giuseppe Aurelio
  • 99 Vanja Vlahović
  • 8 Ádám Nagy
  • 12 Diego Mascardi
  • 16 Leonardo Loria
  • 24 Andrea Bertoncini
  • 77 Emanuele Lorenzelli
  • 19 Hamse Shagaxle
  • 18 Gioele Conte

Timeline

  1. Cesena
    4' Cesena Goal · Normal Goal
    C. Shpendi · Assist: Gianluca Frabotta
  2. Spezia
    15' Spezia Card · Yellow Card
    A. Bellemo
  3. Spezia
    17' Spezia Goal · Normal Goal
    G. Artistico · Assist: A. Bellemo
  4. Cesena
    23' Cesena Card · Yellow Card
    Massimiliano Mangraviti
  5. Cesena
    46' Cesena subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Massimiliano Mangraviti · On: M. Piacentini
  6. Cesena
    53' Cesena Goal · Normal Goal
    T. Berti
  7. Spezia
    57' Spezia Card · Yellow Card
    L. Skjellerup
  8. Spezia
    58' Spezia subst · Substitution 1
    Off: A. Bellemo · On: C. Comotto
  9. Spezia
    58' Spezia subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Marco Ruggero · On: Luca Vignali
  10. Spezia
    64' Spezia subst · Substitution 3
    Off: P. Beruatto · On: G. Aurelio
  11. Spezia
    65' Spezia subst · Substitution 4
    Off: L. Skjellerup · On: V. Vlahovic
  12. Spezia
    67' Spezia Goal · Normal Goal
    G. Aurelio · Assist: L. Sernicola
  13. Cesena
    69' Cesena subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Gianluca Frabotta · On: V. Magni
  14. Cesena
    72' Cesena subst · Substitution 3
    Off: V. Magni · On: M. Olivieri
  15. Cesena
    72' Cesena subst · Substitution 4
    Off: A. Cerri · On: T. Corazza
  16. Spezia
    75' Spezia Goal · Normal Goal
    G. Artistico
  17. Cesena
    82' Cesena subst · Substitution 5
    Off: T. Berti · On: G. Vrioni
  18. Spezia
    84' Spezia subst · Substitution 5
    Off: E. Adamo · On: A. Nagy

Match Stats

Stat Cesena Spezia
Fouls 11 15
Pass Accuracy 82% 83%
Offsides 3 0
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 22 9
Corners 7 0
Total Passes 447 437
Yellow Cards 1 2
Blocked Shots 6 1
Shots on Target 8 6
xG 2.78 1.25
Shots off Target 8 2
Possession 52% 48%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 368 363
Shots Inside Box 16 7
Saves 3 6
Shots Outside Box 6 2

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Spezia's equalizer by G. Artistico at minute 17 shifted momentum away from Cesena.
  • ▸ The late surge of Spezia with goals in the second half turned around a seemingly secure lead for Cesena.