PALERMO

[Forza_Roma]

Fontana has picked up an injury from a clash in the area from a cross into the box. Seems to have hurt the back of his head or neck area. He's being substituted for Agliardi

[Forza_Roma]

Carrozzieri in for Loria...

[Forza_Roma]

Atalanta sub: Ventola in for Zampagna...

[Forza_Roma]

Carded players are:

Cassani M. (Pal), Talamonti L. (Ata), Doni C. (Ata).

[Forza_Roma]

Palermo sub: Simplicio in for Giacomazzi

[Forza_Roma]

FT 1-1 Atalanta should of won this one. Let's just hope Fontana is ok!

[Forza_Roma]

I think Rosetti should of called the penalty against Palermo in the first half...otherwise he did a good job!

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

Atalanta 1 - 1 Palermo
Zampagna 13 (A), Diana 58 (P)
Stadio Azzurri d'Italia

Atalanta dominated the opening half-hour of this match, but Palermo fought back to earn a point in Bergamo.

Only season ticket holders were allowed into the Stadio Azzurri d'Italia due to safety restrictions, but there were some even more important people out of this match. Palermo had Eugenio Corini and David Di Michele suspended as well as the injured Amauri and Andrea Barzagli, while Atalanta had Massimo Donati, Migliaccio and Christian Vieri sidelined.

Within 60 seconds Atalanta had a great chance, as Rodrigo Defendi controlled a Cristiano Doni pass and placed a low finish inches past the near post. Soon after, Bellini's first touch let him down and Alberto Fontana rushed out from six yards to block his path, while the goalkeeper needed two touches to get an Antonino Bernardini snapshot under control.

It was turning into a siege, as Doni again tested veteran Fontana with a powerful strike.

It was clearly just a matter of time and Atalanta broke through after 13 minutes. Bernardini's cross went past two and Riccardo Zampagna was left totally unmarked to tap in at the back post.

Palermo came out of their shell and Andrea Caracciolo's glancing header was off target, but Atalanta had another fantastic scoring opportunity. Luca Ariatti's dummy caught Zampagna off guard and Bellini's strike was deflected just over the bar.

Fabio Simplicio's corner kick clipped the crossbar directly from the flag, then Palermo had their best chance yet with a cracking Cassani volley from outside the area that Alex Calderoni brilliantly palmed round the post.

Atalanta were livid on 39 minutes when they had a good penalty shout waved away that probably would have also resulted in a red card. Doni flicked the ball across with his back to goal for Ariatti to run into the area and Cassani seemed to trip him up clear on goal. Cassani was booked soon after for a separate incident and will be suspended on Wednesday against Milan.

In stoppages a woeful backpass was interrupted by Ariatti and Fontana rushed out to clear with his feet.

After the break Palermo were more aggressive and Caracciolo's screamer from distance stung Calderoni's palms to turn it over for a corner.

The Rosanero snatched an equaliser at the end of a fine team move. Fabio Simplicio spotted Pisano clear coming in from the left and his cross was deflected into the path of Aimo Diana for the finish.

It was nearly 2-1 for the Rosanero a few minutes later, as a cross was whipped in fron the right and Calderoni did just enough to prod it away from both Caracciolo and Tedesco.

Doni was booked for a very late tackle on Tedesco and will be suspended for Wednesday's match with his former club Sampdoria.

It would have been a sensational goal for Atalanta when Zampagna flicked the ball on for Ferreira Pinto and Bellini just failed to turn in at the near post, closed down by a desperate challenge.

There were worrying scenes when Fontana clattered into Simone Loria in a terrible collision that forced both players off the field. Although the defender seemed to lose consciousness, both were able to walk off with the aid of the medical staff.

Substitute goalkeeper Federico Agliardi came out to close down Nicola Ventola, but the ex-Crystal Palace striker wasted a good chance by going for glory instead of passing to Ariatti.

Atalanta: Calderoni; Rivalta, Talamonti, Loria (Carrozzieri 74), Bellini; Defend (Ferreira Pinto 58), Bernardini, Tissone, Ariatti; Doni; Zampagna (Ventola 79)

Palermo: Fontana (Agliardi 75); Cassani, Zaccardo, Biava, Pisano; Guana; Diana, Ciaramitaro (Tedesco 56), Simplicio (Giacomazzi 93), Bresciano; Caracciolo

Ref: Rosetti

[D-Kin]

Just as I predicted, a draw.

I imagine Palermo will be happier with the result than Atalanta are.

[Jager]

I imagine Palermo will be happier with the result than Atalanta are.

You have this backwards???

[D-Kin]

Nope, I think at this stage Palermo will take anything they can get. I mean they're on a poor run, they've got two key players missing (Corini and Di Michele) and they're playing one of the better teams in the league. Then when you look at how the game played out Atalanta probably should have won. Personally I think Palermo will be quite satisfied with their trip to Bergamo.

[meccano]

Calcio Media » Atalanta vs Palermo [24.02.07]

(dailymotion so I can't post it here for some reason

[D-Kin]

Fontana has been diagnosed with whiplash after hid collision with Simone Loria.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

The goals:

TalkSoccer Media Player

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 27 - 4/3/07 (14.00 UK)

Messina - Palermo
Stadio San Filippo

The Sicilian derbies are usually amongst the most passionate in the world and it promises to be no different when Palermo visit the Stadio San Filippo. With both teams in danger of letting all their good work in the early part of the season go to waste, it’s even more important to get one over their local rivals this time.

Palermo were looking like certainties for a Champions League spot until recently, building up a healthy safety net in third place. But with their form now in freefall the disappointing results just keep on coming. The 3-0 defeat to Lazio was nothing short of embarrassing and the Rosanero’s failure to overcome the likes of Empoli and Chievo has done little to restore their pride. Another poor result in the derby could put real pressure on Coach Francesco Guidolin.

Unfortunately Guidolin has two potentially costly absences to contend with. Brazilian hitman Amauri is unlikely to pull on the Rosanero shirt again this season after his serious knee injury, meaning that Andrea Caracciolo will get another chance as the lone striker, even if there are signs that the Coach’s patience is running out with Radoslaw Matusiak waiting on the bench. Influential captain Eugenio Corini will also be missing after he was injured in mid-week against Milan.

Messina will be without midfielder Daniele De Vezze as he was handed a two-match suspension for his red card in Wednesday’s defeat to Empoli. That should see Vincent Candela take the holding role alongside Roberto D’Aversa and Manolo Pestrin – all three midfielders only joined the club in January. Edgar Alvarez seems to have done enough to force his way into the starting line-up and Christian Rigano returns to his role in attack following his injury back in early December.

The Giallorossi have struggled to score goals recently and that has left them in serious danger of relegation. It is 12 weeks since they last scored twice in a single game and that toothless form has seen them drop into the bottom three. Coach Alberto Cavasin will be hoping that top scorer Rigano’s return can inspire his team back to the form they showed in their impressive start to the season and there could be few occasions more satisfying to do so than against their Sicilian rivals.

Man on fire: Edgar Alvarez (Messina) – The Honduran winger has forced his way into boss Alberto Cavasin’s plans with two goals in his last two matches as a substitute and will be looking to really excel now he is playing from the start.

Last season: Messina 0-0 Palermo

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

Messina (probable): Caglioni; Lavecchia, Zoro, Zanchi, Parisi; Pestrin, Candela, D’Aversa; Alvarez, Floccari; Rigano

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

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

If Palermo lose this match, in my opinion, they can kiss CL goodbye. With an extra game in hand, Lazio will catch them and so will Milan eventually. Palermo are in a downward spiral that they can't manage to escape.