BENEVENTO – PALERMO | Sunday 6pm
A vibrant reaction from Benevento after going down by two goals in the first half last Sunday in Reggio Calabria against the league’s second-ranked side. Goals from Improta and Acampora, the two architects of the comeback, gave coach Fabio Cannavaro a valuable point as he emerged unscathed from a personal double-header with his former Italy 2006 World Cup team-mates De Rossi and Inzaghi. After their success before the break against Spal, the Giallorossi extended their positive streak: against Reggina came their fourth consecutive useful result, allowing Schiattarella and his team-mates to momentarily leave the playout zone and join Palermo, their next opponent, on 15 points. However, nobody could have imagined such a complicated start for the Campania side, who have a squad equipped to fight for the top positions.
A discourse that also applies to the Sicilians, currently mired in the lower reaches of the Serie B table. The enthusiasm for promotion and City Group’s purchase of the club seems to have waned, with the Rosanero side recently defeated in their two direct clashes with Cosenza and Venezia. A double knockout that cancels out all the good things Eugenio Corini’s team had shown in their two victories in a row against Modena and Parma. The coach’s bench, meanwhile, is increasingly shaky.
Benevento-Palermo: latest line-up news
The list of unavailable players at Benevento is a long one. Starting with Glik, who is committed to the Qatari World Cup with Poland. In addition to the Polish centre-back, the injured Tello, Veselj, Vokic, Ciano and the disqualified Karic will be missing. Cannavaro is expected to prefer the 4-3-3 to the 3-5-2, partnering Improta and La Gumina with Farias as a false nueve. Palermo midfielder Gomes is in doubt, while Buttaro, Doda, Elia and Saric are certain to be absent.
The Prediction
Two teams and two ambitious places that are currently embroiled in the fight not to be relegated. Of the two, the one in better shape is Benevento, on the strength of four consecutive useful results. In our opinion, the Samnites are slight favourites in a match in which Palermo should also manage to score, despite having one of the worst away attacks.
Benevento v Palermo matchday squad
- BENEVENTO (4-3-3): Paleari; Letizia, Leverbe, Capellini, Masciangelo; Viviani, Schiattarella, Acampora; Improta, Farias, La Gumina.
- PALERMO (4-3-3): Pigliacelli; Mateju, Nedelcearu, Marconi, Sala; Segre, Stulac, Gomes; Valente, Brunori, Di Mariano.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
