[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 18 - 23/12/06 (14.00 UK)
Siena - Palermo

Stadio Franchi

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Siena play host to Palermo in the last outing before the Christmas break. The Sicilians will travel to the Artemio Franchi on Saturday for a game which is bound to be closer than respective League positions would suggest.

Siena’s last Serie A win came at the end of October and it marked the beginning of Ascoli’s crisis. Since then, the Tuscan side have recorded nothing but draws and losses in a run that has seen them drop slowly but surely down the table. Now they lie in 12th position perilously close to the dangerous end of the standings. With that in mind, fans of the Bianconeri will not be too happy with the Christmas present they have been given of a match against Palermo.

Siena Coach Mario Beretta will probably feel the same, but will certainly exhort his troops to fight to try and get something from the game so as not to have too many worries hanging over them during the holiday. A single goal saw them lose the Tuscan derby to Empoli on Wednesday. They might have won the open game if their strikers had been in better form, but in the end they paid for one mistake and now will be hoping that it will not be repeated.

There could be several changes to the side, with Andrea Rossi coming in for Cristian Molinaro at the back and an extra midfielder in the shape of Abdoulay Konko replacing striker Tomas Locatelli, in an attempt to close down Palermo’s very active central department. Mario Frick and Enrico Chiesa should form the two man attack.

The Rosanero mauled Ascoli 4-0 last time out, using the opportunity to remind the rest of the domestic game not to forget them and the threat they pose. Now that they are out of the UEFA Cup, Francesco Guidolin and his side have only the League to worry about. After much criticism from President Maurizio Zamparini, Palermo may at last have come through their first rough patch of the season.

Giuseppe Biava should come back in at centre-back in place of Mattia Cassini, with Cristian Zaccardo moving out to the right. The other change is likely to be in midfield with Wednesday scorer Giovanni Tedesco losing his place in order to accommodate the Brazilian star Fabio Simplicio. David Di Michele and Amauri are almost certain to start up front.

Man on fire: Mark Bresciano (Palermo) – The Australian took just 15 minutes to give his side the lead against Ascoli. He constantly scores these vital goals, appearing from midfield to do some devastating damage. Superb!

Last season: Siena 1-2 Palermo

Form guide: Siena (D L D D L) Palermo (L D W L W)


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Siena (probable): Manninger; Negro, Gastaldello, Rinaudo, Rossi; Konko, Codrea, Vergassola, Antonini; Chiesa, Frick

Palermo (probable): Fontana; Zaccardo, Biava, Barzagli, Pisano; Guana, Corini, Bresciano, Simplicio; Di Michele, Amauri

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...7/sie-pal.html