Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
AlbinoLeffe thrashed Pavia 4-0 in their first pre-season friendly of summer 2026 at Stadio Pietro Fortunati, with Garattoni scoring twice in a dominant second-half display.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Playing in oppressive heat after nine days of training at their Zanica base, Marco Zaffaroni's side controlled the first half without finding a breakthrough until the final minute. Orfei, lively on the left flank, delivered two dangerous crosses that went unconverted — one in the 16th minute and another in the 24th — before the deadlock was finally broken.
Captain Potop and his teammates went ahead in the 44th minute when Desogus swung a corner in from the left and Colombi rose at the near post to power a header past Dieni (possibly deflected by Franchini). It was a goal reminiscent of the one Colombi scored for the Primavera 2 side in last May's playoff quarter-final against Pescara. AlbinoLeffe went into the break 1-0 up.
Zaffaroni changed his entire outfield XI at half-time, and the effect was immediate. Within 12 minutes of the restart, the visitors had scored twice more. Stanzani's cross from the left found Garattoni steaming in at the far post for a simple headed finish in the 47th minute. Three minutes later, Bertin delivered from the same flank and Garattoni controlled before slotting left-footed past Speziale for 3-0. The brace was complete inside 10 minutes of the second half.
The fourth goal arrived in the 66th minute and was the pick of the bunch. Sciacca played through the middle, Stanzani flicked on with his heel, De Paoli repeated the trick, and Ciko — also with a backheel — set up Agostinelli, who rolled the ball into an empty net from close range.
The turning point
Zaffaroni's 10-outfield-player substitution at half-time transformed the game. The rotated XI scored three goals in 21 second-half minutes, and the quickfire Garattoni double between the 47th and 55th minutes effectively killed the contest before the hour mark. Pavia, who had held firm for 44 minutes, had no answer to the fresh legs.
Key performers
- Matteo Garattoni (AlbinoLeffe) — Two goals in 10 second-half minutes, both arriving from crosses on the left. His movement to the far post undid Pavia's defence twice in quick succession. Player of the match.
- Colombi (AlbinoLeffe) — Scored the crucial first-half opener with a near-post header from a corner, setting the tone before the wholesale changes.
- Agostinelli (AlbinoLeffe) — Capped a flowing team move with a composed finish for the fourth goal, part of a slick five-pass sequence.
- Orfei (AlbinoLeffe) — The liveliest player in the first half, creating two clear chances with crosses from the left that went unfinished.
By the numbers — interpreted
AlbinoLeffe's 61% possession and 5-2 advantage in shots on target reflect a game they controlled from start to finish, but the 4-0 scoreline undersells Pavia's first-half resistance. The hosts held out for 44 minutes and conceded only from a set-piece before the break. The 31-19 edge in dangerous attacks tells the fuller story: AlbinoLeffe created chances steadily, while Pavia rarely threatened Baldi in goal. The 0-4 margin was the widest of the pre-season friendly slate on 25 July in this competition.
What it means
This was the first pre-season friendly of summer 2026 for both clubs. AlbinoLeffe (Serie C) used 26 of their 27 available players — only goalkeeper Carrara remained unused — and Zaffaroni's return as head coach began with a statement win. Pavia (Serie D) started their pre-season with a defeat under manager Pablo Granoche, with goalkeeper Dieni forced off through injury in the 36th minute. AlbinoLeffe's next pre-season test comes against Arezzo (Serie B) on 29 July at the C.S. Comunale in Clusone.
Verdict
AlbinoLeffe's depth was the story. Zaffaroni rotated two entirely different XIs across the two halves, and both units looked comfortable. The quickfire Garattoni brace off the bench suggests the squad has genuine attacking options. Pavia, a division below, will take encouragement from their first-half organisation but will need to address the defensive collapse after the interval.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 1 Aug 2026