BARI, Italy. Sept 8: Italian Serie A club Bari hope to have God on their side this season after a visit to the city's main church here, reports AFP.

Club chairman Vincenzo Matarrese. senior officials, all the players, plus coach Eugenio Fascetti. have an appointment here with the head of the San Nicola basilica, Father Giovanni Distante, on Wednesday morning.

The act of faith, which comes before the team's first home match of the new season, is not the first to be performed by the Italian club.

Last season, after successfully keeping their place in the top flight, Bari players made a pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the recently beatified Padre Pio at Foggia by bicycle.