03 March 2015
This week’s edition of #TalentTrack begins with a look at former Primavera skipper Pol Garcia Tena, who currently plies his trade at Serie B side Vicenza.
With the Veneto-based outfit looking to return to Italy’s top flight for the first time since the 2000/01 campaign, Pasquale Marino’s troops did their promotion push no harm by triumphing 2-0 away at 10-man Bologna.
Despite normally known as a central defender, Garcia Tena played the full 90 minutes at left-back as two goals in either half from Federico Moretti allowed the Biancorossi to close the gap on the second-placed Gialloblu to a solitary point in the standings.
The young Spaniard has enjoyed a fruitful loan spell with Vicenza thus far, racking up 18 appearances over the course of the season as well as chipping in with a goal against Catania back in October.
Elsewhere, Eric Lanini got his name on the scoresheet for Virtus Entella during the Chiavari-based side’s 5-2 home loss at the hands of Pescara on Saturday afternoon.
After spending the 2013/14 term on loan with Prato, the 21-year-old, who is co-owned by both Juventus and Palermo, joined the Biancocelesti at the start of this season where he has now bagged three goals.
Lanini is a nifty forward, blessed with excellent dribbling skills and has a knack for finding the back of the net on a regular basis. He linked up with Juventus’ youth academy at the age of 13 and starred at the Torneo di Viareggio back in 2013, finishing joint-top goalscorer with five strikes.
With his current employers hovering dangerously over the drop zone, the Torino-born youngster needs to carry on his impressive performances if Virtus Entella want to have any chance of staying in Serie B.
Versatile winger Mame Thiam also kept up his rich vein in front of goal this weekend after notching in Lanciano’s 2-2 stalemate with Cittadella.
The Senegalese striker’s finish, his seventh of the campaign, put his side 2-1 up on 24 minutes before the away outfit equalised soon after for a share of the spoils. Despite labouring to a draw on home soil, Lanciano remain a mere point behind Perugia, who occupy the final play-off spot in eighth position.
And finally, another player who continues to earn rave reviews for his performances on loan, this time in Italy’s top flight, is shotstopper Nicola Leali.
The 22-year-old kept a clean sheet as 19th-placed Cesena held on for a hard-earned 1-0 triumph over Udinese on Sunday, and subsequently haul themselves to within four points of safety.
With Serie A’s relegation dogfight hotting up, Leali was in stellar form by keeping both Cyril Thereau and Antonio Di Natale at bay during the encounter at the Dino Manuzzi.
