PESCARA, Italy (Interstat) — Antonio Di Nardo scored twice in a dominant first half as Pescara routed Bari 4-0 in a Serie B match Sunday at Stadio Adriatico-Giovanni Cornacchia.

The comprehensive victory, which far exceeded statistical projections, provided a rare bright spot in a difficult season for both clubs. Pescara’s attack, which had struggled for consistency, overwhelmed Bari from the opening whistle.

Di Nardo opened the scoring in the 13th minute, finishing a move he helped create. The forward doubled the home side’s lead just before halftime, striking again in the 47th minute to send Pescara into the break with a commanding 2-0 advantage. His performance included an assist, contributing directly to three of the four goals.

Any hope of a Bari comeback was extinguished shortly after the restart. Midfielder Luca Valzania found the net in the 56th minute, extending Pescara’s lead to 3-0. The scoring was rounded out by veteran midfielder Lorenzo Insigne, who added a fourth goal later in the second half to complete the rout.

The match was a stark reversal from the teams’ previous meeting on Dec. 8, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a repeat of that 1-1 scoreline, while its ELO system gave Pescara a 69.5 percent probability to win. The actual result was a far more decisive outcome.

The match featured a flurry of yellow cards in the first half. Pescara substitute Giacomo De Pieri was booked in the 28th minute, followed by Di Nardo in the 30th. Bari’s Lorenzo Berardi received a yellow card in the 79th minute.

The loss extends a dismal run for Bari, which has now failed to win in its last nine Serie B matches, a streak dating back to early December. The team’s last victory in the competition was a 1-0 win over Mantova on Oct. 26. Their form across all competitions is equally bleak, with just two wins in 20 outings.

For Pescara, the three points offer a measure of relief in a challenging campaign. The club had won only two of its previous 18 league matches. The victory moves them ahead of Bari in the Serie B table, though both sides remain in the lower half.

Bari’s offensive struggles were glaring, failing to score for the fifth time in its last nine league games. The team has managed only three goals total during that winless stretch.

Pescara will look to build on the momentum when it travels to face Suditrol next Sunday. Bari, seeking to halt its slide, returns home to host Reggiana on Saturday.