Carpi defeated Mantova 1-0 in a club friendly on Saturday evening. The match took place at the Mantova ground on 9 August 2026, with the final whistle bringing a result that defied the statistics. To be fair, the visitors had less of the ball but took their chance.
The decisive moment arrived in the 65th minute. Carpi scored the only goal of the game, and that was enough to secure the win. And here's the thing — Mantova had dominated possession throughout but failed to convert their advantage.
The numbers tell one story while the result tells another. Mantova controlled 59 per cent of possession and registered 93 attacks compared to Carpi's 52. Yet the home side managed only six corners to the visitors' single attempt. By then the game had been decided.
Mantova arrived in decent form, having won three of their previous four matches. They beat Legnago Salus 3-1, Alcion 6-2, and Ambrosiana 7-0 before this fixture. Carpi's recent record was mixed, with a loss to Cesena and a win against Arcignano Valchiampo.
The single goal decided the match, and the result stands as Carpi's first competitive victory since their win over Arcignano Valchiampo. Mantova's attacking statistics will not fill the gap left by their inability to score.