Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Mantova 1st with 80 points, Novara 17th with 43, 37 apart. Mantova had been under-performing their position — 19th on five-round form against 1st in the table. Against a league average of 1.11 goals per team per game, Novara ran at 1.03 scored and 1.29 conceded, Mantova at 1.89 and 0.82.
Three consecutive wins preceded this game for Mantova, having scored in 13 consecutive games.
The venue was Stadio Silvio Piola in Vercelli, with room for 5,500 spectators. On the scoreboard, Novara led 1-0 at the break; 1 second-half goal set the final 1-1.