Palermo host Udinese at the Stadio Renzo Barbera on Sunday afternoon in Serie A, both teams aiming to forget their respective 4-0 losses in the last fixture.
The hosts conceded four at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris against Genoa, in what was the first game of Guillermo Schelotto as the new coach. All sorts of problems between players, staff, coaches and President Maurizio Zamparini have lead to a mixture of results – two wins and four losses in the last six – as well as the sacking of ex-coach Davide Ballardini before the last game.
Udinese have not had the same internal problems, but also come off the back of a devastating 4-0 defeat, at home to Juventus, highlighting all the defensive problems of Stefano Colantuono’s men. In the same time span considered for Palermo – the past six games – Udinese have conceded 14 goals, resulting in four defeats and just two wins.
Last season’s fixtures between the two clubs saw a draw in Palermo and a 1-3 away win for the Rosanero in Udine. Similar to the last time the two sides met, back in August, when the Rosanero found a crucial 1-0 away win thanks to Luca Rigoni’s winner.
Rigoni is no longer in the squad after a row with Zamparini, and coach Schelotto will also have to play without Sinisa Andelkovic, who is banned, and Roberto Vitiello, who is injured. The Argentinian will likely count on a solid defence and Franco Vazquez to inspire Alberto Gilardino and Aleksandar Trajkovski up front.
Colantuono, on the other hand, will have to find a replacement for Danilo in defence, after the Brazilian is banned for this game. Thomas Heurtaux is likely to start instead, with Maurizio Domizzi also unavailable due to an injury. Alexander Merkel is also sidelined, while Colantuono might choose to keep out Antonio Di Natale and confirm Cyril Thereau and Duvan Zapata as the attacking duo.
Form Guide
Palermo (W-L-L-W-L) Udinese (L-W-W-L-L)
Expected Starting XIs
Palermo: Sorrentino; Goldaniga, Gonzalez, Struna; Morganella, Hiljemark, Jajalo, Chochev, Lazaar; Vazquez; Gilardino, Trajkovski.
Udinese: Karnezis; Wague, Herteaux, Felipe; Widmer, Badu, Lodi, Iturra, Edenilson; Thereau, Zapata.
