PALERMO

[D-Kin]

Originally Posted by Forza_Roma

Corini and Di Michelle both pick up cards and will both miss the next game against Atalanta. Not good news as Palermo are slumping.

Two key players there. Corini pulling the strings in midfield and Di Michele looked good up front today.

[D-Kin]

Originally Posted by Forza_Roma

Ya, they have been slumping around Christmas time. They had a great start, but they never thought they would be Scudetto contenders. And with Amauri gone for the season, doesn't help either! Hopefully they can get a Uefa spot becasue a CL spot, seems almost out of the question.

To be honest they're extremely lucky that they're still in the CL places. Losing Amauri was key but people forget they were looking out of sorts even before he got injured.

[Forza_Roma]

Originally Posted by Joel

Two key players there. Corini pulling the strings in midfield and Di Michele looked good up front today.

Di Michele tuned two defenders inside out late in the second half....great stuff...but his shot was stopped.

Also, on Di Michele's yellow card, he didn't even tackle anyone he got it for his big mouth. He mad a nice play to get away from a Chievo player then the ball went out for a throw. I guess he argued with the ref because he though the Chievo player touched it last. But i like how he has that edge to him.

[Trim]

The latest draw against struggling Chievo Verona infuriated the volcanic President of the Rosanero.

Palermo have lost the brilliance of the early part of the season, and President Maurizio Zamparini wanted to let his players know that he was far from happy with this situation.

"At the entrance of my team's training ground I would like to put a sign with the points won in the past 14 matches. The possibility of reaching a Champions League spot is fading away.

"We're free-falling now, just like against Empoli, our opponent (Chievo) was running twice as much as we did. If we were 5-6 points away from the relegation zone we would already be doomed. I don't want to be pessimistic, but I don't think we will return to the level we had at the start of the season.

"However, I'm sure we will return to do well, but for the time being, if I were instead of the players, I would be ashamed," thundered Zamparini.

Goal.com - Furious Zamparini Tells Palermo Players To Be Ashamed

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 24 - 18/2/07 (14.00 UK)

Palermo 1 - 1 Chievo
Di Michele 23 (P), Obinna 45 (C)
Stadio Barbera (22,057)

Luigi Del Neri returned to face his former club and held them to another disappointing home result.

There were many more ex-Chievo men in the Rosanero jersey, including Eugenio Corini, Alberto Fontana and Andrea Barzagli. Sergio Pellissier did not make the trip due to a knee injury, while Mark Bresciano was rested.

Mattia Cassani was fortunate not to be sent off after 30 seconds, as he was only booked for a studs-first thigh-high tackle on Victor Obinna.

Palermo took the lead in chaotic circumstances. David Di Michele ran on to a dreadful scuffed Paolo Sammarco clearance that ended up going towards the goal instead of away from it, volleying in from nine yards. Chievo were furious, as initially it had been disallowed for offside, but the linesman correctly pointed out that Di Michele was in play and the final pass came from an opponent.

Lorenzo Squizzi replaced the disappointing Vincenzo Sicignano this week and performed a crucial reaction save to keep the scoreline down when a Corini corner kick reached Andrea Caracciolo from less than six yards.

In first half stoppages Chievo grabbed a deserved equaliser, as Cristian Zaccardo was dispossessed inside his own penalty area and Obinna side-footed a precise finish into the far bottom corner.

After the break a corner kick came out to Vincenzo Italiano, his powerful strike parried by Fontana.

Di Michele went on a wonderful slalom from midfield to bring a brilliant reaction save out of Squizzi, but he hit the follow-up too hard and an unmarked Andrea Caracciolo was livid.

Fabio Simplicio hit the side-netting, but Chievo were slowly taking control and after Obinna skimmed the woodwork, Fontana flew to palm an Erjon Bogdani header round the post.

Andrea Caracciolo did precious little for the 90 minutes, but in stoppages he chested down the ball with his back to the net and spun round for a marvellous volley that whistled across the face of goal.

Palermo: Fontana; Cassani, Zaccardo, Biava, Capuano (Pisano 65); Diana (Giacomazzi 86), Corini, Simplicio, Tedesco (Guana 46); Di Michele; Caracciolo

Chievo: Squizzi; Moro, Mandelli, D'Anna, Lanna; Luciano (Kosowski 58.), Sammarco, Italiano (Marcolini 62), Semioli; Bogdani (Cossato 84), Obinna

Ref: Stefanini

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 25 - 24/2/07 (19.30 UK)

Atalanta - Palermo
Stadio Azzurri d'Italia

Atalanta and Palermo will both be hoping for wins when they meet at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia to confirm their status as European contenders this season. While the Sicilians need to halt their poor run, the hosts need to bounce back if they are to grab a shock qualification for the UEFA Cup.

The Rosanero have gone into freefall recently and are in danger of wiping out all the excellent work they put in during the first half of the season. Going into the winter break they looked like dead certainties to take a Champions League place with a hefty safety margin in third place. There are still nine points separating them from fifth place and the less prestigious UEFA Cup, but with only two wins in seven attempts that lead won’t last long unless they can rectify their slide.

Luckily, their poor form has coincided with that of second placed Roma, meaning they are only six points off automatic qualification for the Champions League. After the furious reaction the players received from President Maurizio Zamparini, Coach Francesco Guidolin will be hoping for an improvement in this match.

The biggest problem for Palermo is the continued absence of star striker Amauri, who is unlikely to play any further part in the season due to his serious knee injury. Many people have pointed to his absence as one of the main reasons for the Rosanero’s drop in form, meaning that Andrea Caracciolo will once again be hoping to show that he is an adequate replacement. To make matters worse captain Eugenio Corini and joint top scorer David Di Michele are both suspended while Andrea Barzagli is unlikely to return from injury in time to play a part.

Atalanta have a lengthy absence in their own frontline. Veteran Christian Vieri is yet to recover from his knee injury, while defender Kewullay Conteh is also out injured. Energetic midfielder Giulio Migliaccio is suspended following his red card against Reggina, meaning Ferreira Pinto’s place on the right wing looks secure.

The Orobici have shown some worrying inconsistencies of late and have slipped out of the European places. After three consecutive draws Coach Stefano Colantuono will be hoping to wake his team out of their slumber in time for this game.

Man on fire: Riccardo Zampagna (Atalanta) – The former Messina hitman has grabbed his chance with both hands since replacing Nicola Ventola in the Atalanta starting XI and will be hoping to add to his tally of six goals.

Last season: Not played

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

Atalanta (probable): Calderoni; Rivalta, Talamonti, Loria, Bellini; Ferreira Pinto, Bernardini, Donati, Ariatti; Doni; Zampagna

Palermo (probable): Fontana; Cassani, Zaccardo, Biava, Capuano; Bresciano, Simplicio, Guana; Diana, Brienza; Caracciolo

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Atalanta squad: Nelson Abeijon, Luca Ariatti, Gianpaolo Bellini, Antonino Bernardini, Davide Bombardini, Alex Calderoni, Moris Carrozzieri, Marino Defendi, Cristiano Doni, Adriano Ferreira Pinto, Andrea Ivan, Simone Loria, Pereira Da Silva Adriano, Claudio Rivalta, Jose Leonardo Talamonti, Fernando Damian Tissone, Nicola Ventola, Riccardo Zampagna

[Forza_Roma]

This should be a great game. With the way Palermo are playing at the moment and Corini and Di Michele missing the game, Atalanta should find a way to take the three points, but a draw could also be on the cards. I will be cheering for Atalanta in this game!

[D-Kin]

Not having Donati is a blow for Atalanta but I still feel they have a chance here, especially at home. Palermo are not playing well at the moment.

[Forza_Roma]

Nice chance for Defendi as Doni sends a nice ball through..just wide! Doni is looking to impress with Donadoni sitting in the stands.

[Forza_Roma]

Atalanta with some nice one touch passing which leads to a marvelous chance by Doni with a great strike and a better save by Fontana

[Forza_Roma]

1-0 Atalanta....Zampagna. Left unmarked in front of goal, cross comes in for the empty net. More of a diflecked shot. Palermo clearly missing the creativity by Corini in the midfield

[Forza_Roma]

Palermo were pouring it on trying to equalize, but lack finishing.

[Forza_Roma]

Zampagna and Doni look the most dangerous on the pitch. Doni had a great chance in the first half as he was alone in the box, but was tackled and appeals for a penalty were declined.

[Forza_Roma]

1-1 Diana....Great play by Pisano with a pass to Diana