Arezzo have secured promotion to Serie B after a dramatic final day of the Serie C season, marking their return to the second tier after a 19-year absence. The Tuscan club sealed automatic promotion with a 3-1 victory over Torres in front of 8,000 fans at the Stadio Città di Arezzo, pipping Ascoli to the top spot in Group B on head-to-head record. The result capped a remarkable late-season surge for Cristian Bucchi's side, who capitalized on Ascoli's concurrent 1-0 away defeat to Campobasso.
Arezzo's path to promotion was solidified by goals from Tavernelli, Alessandro Arena, and Pattarello, overcoming an equalizer from Torres's Di Stefano. The victory was rendered even more significant by events elsewhere, as Sambenedettese's last-gasp 3-2 win at Vis Pesaro condemned Torres to the relegation playouts instead. This twist ensured Torres needed a result to guarantee safety, adding intensity to the contest at the top. Arezzo's triumph concludes a campaign where they overcame a significant points deficit, ultimately holding off an Ascoli side that had mounted a charge of ten consecutive wins.
For Ascoli, the campaign ends in the disappointment of second place, forcing them to enter the promotion playoffs. They will begin their quest for Serie B in the second round of the national phase. Juventus Next Gen finished fifth in the group, their highest-ever placement, and will face Vis Pesaro in the first round of the group playoffs.
The relegation picture in Group B was also decided on the final day. Pontedera suffered direct relegation following their 2-0 loss to Livorno, while Torres will face Bra in a two-legged playout to determine who joins them in Serie D. Sambenedettese's miraculous comeback victory, scoring twice between the 96th and 100th minutes against Vis Pesaro, secured their survival in dramatic fashion.
In Group C, the final day confirmed the fate of several historic clubs. Foggia, a former Serie A side, suffered direct relegation following a 3-1 home defeat to Salernitana. They will be joined in Serie D by Trapani and Siracusa. Atalanta's Under-23 side secured a playoff place with a 1-1 draw against Catania, finishing 11th but qualifying due to a superior goal difference over Altamura. Catania's late equalizer in that match confirmed their second-place finish and entry into the second round of the national playoffs.
Salernitana's win secured third place and a spot in the first round of the national playoffs, while Cosenza finished fourth and will enter the group playoffs at the second round. The playoff structure across the three groups now sets the stage for a complex post-season, with several clubs still harboring hopes of joining Arezzo in Serie B next season. The promotion marks a significant milestone for Arezzo, re-establishing the club in the professional ranks after a long absence, while the relegation of Foggia represents a major setback for one of southern Italy's traditional footballing institutions.
