Bologna has soared to the top of the Italian Serie B ladder after defeating AusItalian Carl Valeri's Grosseto 1-0 while Albinoleffe suffered a 3-0 loss to Lecce.

Bologna 1-0 Grosseto
Bologna surge away at the top of the table after this slender victory. It was a tougher test than expected against little Grosseto, as Antonioli required a stunning double reaction save on Valeri and Paulinho’s follow-up. Youngster Di Gennaro came off the bench and within 60 seconds his shot was parried into the path of Marazzina for a fifth goal in as many games. Paulinho risked an equaliser in stoppages as his header skimmed the woodwork.
Scorers: Marazzina 63 (B)
Bologna: Antonioli; Daino, Terzi, Castellini, Bonetto; Mingazzini, Carrus, Amoroso; Adailton (Di Gennaro 61); Bombardini (Lavecchia 81), Marazzina (Fava 76)
Grosseto: Bressan; Terra (Virga 83), Mignani, Abruzzese, Gessa (Innocenti 58); Valeri, Moro, Garofalo; Carboni (Zecchi 70), Lazzari; Paulinho
Ref: Bergonzi

Avellino 3-1 Cesena
Avellino picked up a crucial win in this relegation six-pointer, but had to fight back after conceding an early goal from Cortellini’s screamer. It didn’t take long to overturn the situation, as by the 12th minute they were leading thanks to headers from Sestu and Salgado. Cesena took control after the break, but despite all their possession failed to really threaten, Moscardelli firing straight at the goalkeeper in their best chance. It proved costly, as in stoppages Bracaletti scored against his former club on the counter and Doudou saw red for dissent.

Chievo 2-3 Mantova
Chievo’s promotion hopes were given a beating after this head-to-head battle at the Stadio Bentegodi, but Mantova climb closer to the top spots with a fourth consecutive victory. It took just 80 seconds to break the deadlock with Italiano smacking a screamer into the top corner from 30 metres, but within moments they were back on level terms thanks to Corona’s left-foot strike from the edge of the box. Godeas pounced on the rebound from a Tarana strike and then set up Caridi for a tap-in, but there could easily have been more goals from Mantovani and Italiano. In stoppages Iunco made the scoreline less imposing by nodding in a corner.

Frosinone 0-0 Vicenza
Frosinone were surprisingly held to a stalemate and drop further off the play-off pace. Margiotta went closest when he struck the upright, but Vicenza also hit the woodwork with Martinelli’s cross-shot.

Lecce 3-0 Albinoleffe
‘Leffe are knocked off the leadership with this crushing defeat at fellow promotion candidates Lecce. Both sides had chances in the first half with Valdes and Garlini, but two minutes after the restart Munari’s effort was parried into the path of Abbruscato. Tiribocchi made the points safe with two late goals, tapping in Munari’s assist and springing the offside trap to volley a rocket past the goalkeeper from 30 metres.

Piacenza 2-0 Triestina
Cacia scored his first goal since suffering a serious injury eight months ago and helped Piacenza to see off Triestina, breaking away from the bottom spots. Anaclerio opened the scoring early on by meeting a Patrascu free kick and after Granoche had a goal disallowed for offside, Lima was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Cacia celebrated breaking his drought with a splendid left-foot volley.

Ravenna 1-1 Modena
The spoils were shared in the local derby and Ravenna remain in penultimate position on Coach Varrella's home debut. Modena had the stronger start and hit the crossbar with Pani before Colacone made the most of Pinardi’s searching pass. Colaconi should have made it 2-0, but that miss allowed Cosenza’s looping header from a corner kick to equalise. Pinardi was dismissed for a second bookable offence and Ravenna failed to take advantage of the extra man.

Rimini 1-1 Pisa
Pisa left it very late indeed to snatch a point at the Stadio Neri in this top of the table battle, but are without a win in a month. Jeda combined with Valiani at pace for a well-taken team goal and Rimini dominated overall, but failed to make the most of their chances. Pisa had hitman Cerci suspended and struggled to create scoring opportunities, but at the death Castillo got on the end of Kutuzov’s assist.

Spezia 2-0 Messina
Messina’s run of three consecutive wins ground to a halt at the Picco in a mostly one-sided encounter. Guidetti had three good chances to open the scoring, including an effort that hit the upright, before he made the most of Padoin’s assist. The Sicilians were never really in the running and Bisa was brought down for Saverino’s spot-kick.

Treviso 1-2 Bari
Bari register their first victory in 11 rounds with a shock result away to Treviso. Antonelli was the decisive figure, as his cross was nodded in by Tabbiani and before the break he also set up Galasso’s right-foot drive. Treviso only managed to pull a goal back in the final minute with Beghetto’s curling strike, but Barreto still went close to an equaliser with the last kick of the game, firing over the bar.

Serie B Table after round 18 

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