The final match of the 2025–26 Eccellenza Puglia season delivered a tense 1-1 draw between Ilvamaddalena and Polisportiva Pietralunghese at the Stadio Comunale on Sunday evening. Both sides entered the contest needing a win to improve their respective positions, but ultimately settled for a share of the spoils in a hard-fought encounter.

Match Overview

Played under the lights on 7 June 2026, the game saw two clubs from opposite ends of the table battle for momentum heading into the summer break. Ilvamaddalena, buoyed by home support, started brightly and dominated possession early on. However, Polisportiva Pietralunghese remained compact and dangerous on the counter, ensuring the match remained finely balanced throughout.

Key Moments

• First half – Ilvamaddalena strike first: The home side broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when a well-worked free kick found the head of central defender Marco Ruiu, who guided the ball past the Pietralunghese goalkeeper.
• Second half – Equaliser from a set piece: Polisportiva Pietralunghese responded after the interval. In the 62nd minute, a corner kick caused chaos in the Ilvamaddalena box, and forward Matteo Serra pounced on the loose ball to level the score.
• Late drama: Both teams pushed for a winner in the final 20 minutes. Ilvamaddalena hit the crossbar through a long-range effort from captain Andrea Piras, while Pietralunghese had a goal disallowed for offside in stoppage time.

Tactical Story

Ilvamaddalena lined up in a 4-3-3, relying on wide crosses and set pieces to create chances. Polisportiva Pietralunghese, organised in a 4-4-2, focused on defensive solidity and quick transitions. The away side’s discipline in midfield limited Ilvamaddalena’s creativity, forcing them to rely on dead-ball situations – a strategy that almost paid off fully.

Standout Players

• Marco Ruiu (Ilvamaddalena): Scored the opener and was a rock at the back, winning several aerial duels.
• Matteo Serra (Polisportiva Pietralunghese): His poacher’s instinct earned his side a point, and his hold-up play troubled the home defence.
• Andrea Piras (Ilvamaddalena): The captain covered every blade of grass and came closest to scoring the winner with his thunderous strike off the woodwork.

Season and Table Impact

The draw leaves Ilvamaddalena in 7th place with 38 points, while Polisportiva Pietralunghese finish their campaign in 11th with 31 points. Neither side was in relegation danger, but both will view this result as a missed opportunity to climb the standings. For the neutrals, the game provided an entertaining end to the Eccellenza Puglia season.