Serie A Preview: Palermo Travels to Turin to Take On Struggling Juventus

Last year’s demolishing from the Turin outfit is a distant memory as a confident Palermo travels to Turin to take on a struggling Juventus this Sunday.

Both Juventus and Palermo are level on points—laying the ground for an interesting game at the Stadio Olimpico. The Sicilian club is hoping to get past Catania on the table ahead of next week’s derby as Juventus is going through a goal-drought.

JUVENTUS

Last season saw Juventus having a field day by trashing the Sicilian side with 5-0. There are different circumstances this time around as the Bianconeri players have had major difficulties in finding the back of the net—in spite of no shortage in the amount of chances created.

The Bianconeri now has three back to back draws that as resulted in talks of a club in crisis as well as the possibility that coach Ranieri might be getting the sack this Sunday should his side fail to deliver

Ranieri’s injury headache continues as Legrottaglie, Zebina, Zanetti, Andrade and Trezeguet remain injured, but Buffon is expected to be back between the posts after his two-week absence.

Due to the injury list the Juventus tactician is facing he could very well be forced to start with his sixth defence line-up in as many games seeing that Chiellini still is an uncertain card. In the case of Chiellinis inability to participate on Sunday’s fixture Knezevic is set to fill his place next to Mellberg.

Recent reports suggests that Alex Del Piero has had a falling out with Ranieri – something that could result in the dropping of the captain thus opening up a spot for Iaquinta who scored twice in their midweek Champions League game against Bate Borisov.

Amauri is up for an emotional encounter as this is the first time the Brazilian comes up against his former side since his summer switch to the Turin-based club.

Juventus (probable): Buffon, De Ceglie, Chiellini, Mellberg, Grygera, Nedved, Marchisio, Poulsen, Camoranesi, Iaquinta, Amauri.

PALERMO

Palermo has, under new coach Davide Ballardini, snatched up three wins in four games and is finally playing their potential. The confidence is high and the team fresh considering having had no midweek cup-play.

Last week’s clash with defence prone Reggina lead Palermo’s game to a stand-still at times but an individual performance from former Juventus hit-man Miccoli gave all three points to the Rosanero.

The game against Juventus marks a streak of tricky games for Ballardini as his men take on Catania next week in an away derby followed by Fiorentina home at La Favorita.

Ballardini has just like his Juventus counterpart several absentees ahead of the game with Bresciano, Budan, Fontana, Succi and Guano on the sidelines.

The Sicilian side holds as many as five previous Bianconeri players in the squad, the latest being Nocerino who has fired up the atmosphere ahead of the game by declaring that he is very eager to beat his former side.

Palermo (probable): Amelia; Cassani, Carrozzieri, Bovo, Balzaretti; Nocerino, Liverani, Migliaccio; Simplicio; Cavani, Miccoli