Palermo host Chievo on Sunday afternoon at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Serie A, with both teams looking to get back to winning ways after difficult periods.
Both sides have won just three games so far this season, with Palermo not winning in the last three outings and the hosts in the last six. The guests come from a home defeat to Empoli, whilst Chievo got a good point away at Sampdoria.
Last season’s fixtures both ended 1-0 to the host team, with Chievo winning in March thanks to a goal by Alberto Paloschi and Palermo taking the three points in October thanks to a late Luca Rigoni winner.
Rigoni will not be able to play this time, as he is injured alongside Francesco Bolzoni, Michel Morganella and Uros Djurdjevic. Coach Beppe Iachini cannot therefore count on these players, but will still be able to display most of his starting eleven.
The game is crucial for Palermo’s coach as President Maurizio Zamparini has made it clear that without a win Iachini risks losing his place.
To get a win in the Bentegodi, Iachini will count a lot on Alberto Gilardino and Franco Vazquez up front, the two players who can really make a difference and have the quality to trouble the Chievo back four.
Rolando Maran will stick with most of the team that got a draw against Sampdoria, with Roberto Inglese starting ahead of captain Sergio Pellissier once again. With Riccardo Meggiorini ruled out for a ban, the other striker will have to be Paloschi.
Youngster Federico Mattiello and Nicolas Frey are both unavailable through injury for Maran, who will also keep experienced Giampiero Pinzi and Dario Dainelli on the bench to give a chance to Bostjan Cesar at the back and Lucas Castro in the middle.
Form Guide: Chievo (D-L-L-L-D) Palermo (L-W-D-L-L)
Expected Starting XIs
Palermo: Sorrentino, Gonzalez, Vitiello, Andelkovic, Rispoli, Jajalo, Maresca, Quaison, Lazaar, Vazquez, Gilardino.
Chievo: Bizzarri, Cacciatore, Cesar, Gamberini, Gobbi, Castro, Rigoni, Hetemaj, Birsa, Paloschi, Inglese.
