Palermo faces setbacks and traps in upcoming matches, truth test awaits
A quick look at the standings and results of the last few games might lead one to believe that the second part of the season will be easier for Palermo, who dream of reaching the mid-November break from the top. However, the upcoming fixtures for Brunori and his teammates will be anything but easy, as they will face teams from Serie A for the first time and have to play five games in twenty days. Coach Corini is relatively calm about this, as he has a fairly long and efficient bench that allows him to manage the players’ energy and make different tactical choices based on the opponent. He has already changed the starting lineup in seven of the first eight games, especially in the midfield, where he has made significant changes both at the beginning of matches and during them. In attack, injuries have affected the recent lineups, while the only real competition in defense is between Aurelio and Lund on the left flank. The first part of the season, also with five games in three weeks, was encouraging for Palermo, as they collected 12 out of 15 possible points. They will start their second assault for a fourth consecutive victory against Spezia next Monday. Spezia, despite having high expectations, has struggled in the league and has only beaten Feralpisalò so far. Their attack, despite having talented players such as Moro and Antonucci, has only scored in three of the first eight games. However, Spezia and Sampdoria, who Palermo will face in their only away game in the next twenty days, will still be tough opponents. Sampdoria has had a difficult start to the season but has a strong squad and a history of eleven years in Serie A. They are currently facing a two-point deduction as well. Both matches against Spezia and Sampdoria should slightly favor Palermo, but they should not underestimate any opponent as the relegated teams are still top contenders for promotion. Last year, against teams from Serie A, Corini’s side won two and lost four of the six matches, with all the defeats coming in away games or against Venezia at home. Now, Palermo has the right tools to compete on an equal footing with these former top-flight teams. In addition to the matches against Spezia and Sampdoria, Palermo will also face another new Serie B team, Lecco, who have just made a coaching change. Lecco will have six games in three weeks before facing Palermo and will also play against struggling teams like Ascoli and Pisa. The cycle of matches for Palermo will conclude with home games against Brescia and Cittadella, both of whom have had a better start to the season compared to the previous opponents. The match against Brescia will be particularly important to erase the memory of the draw that prevented Palermo from entering the playoffs last season. Cittadella, led by Gorini for the second year, is also in the race for promotion and has already caused problems for Bari, Sampdoria, and Catanzaro in away games. If the demanding schedule at the beginning of autumn helped Palermo understand their true capabilities, the upcoming fixtures must be about confirming their potential. They will be motivated by a passionate fan base that supports them both at home and away, as the dream of returning to the top level of football continues.
Retrocesse e… trappole, per il Palermo nelle prossime gare arriva la prova verità
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