Chievo vs Palermo preview - Flying Donkeys buoyed by cup win - Di Carlo

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 by PA

Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo is hopeful his side can build on their midweek cup success and claim the spoils against Palermo.

The men from Verona lost 2-0 at Roma last weekend in the league but responded with a 2-1 triumph at Udinese on Wednesday to progress to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

"It is incredibly difficult to get a result in Udine, but we are in good shape and played with the positive attitude I always want to see from my team," Di Carlo said. "I am very happy and Udinese remain a great side which is why beating them has even greater value.

"This victory makes us proud and gives us prestige, but at the same time we've got to stay humble and always try to play with this intensity."

The Flying Donkeys will meet Siena in the last eight of the cup at the end of January, but in the meantime Di Carlo's men will turn their attention back to the league.

Chievo are 14th in the standings, one point adrift of Sunday's rivals.

The Flying Donkeys will fancy their changes for they have lost just once this season at the Marc' Antonio Bentegodi stadium while Palermo have yet to win on the road this season.

Moreover, the Sicilians have yet to win under coach Bortolo Mutti.

Mutti has managed a 2-2 draw at Novara and 3-1 home defeat to Napoli in the last round since replacing sacked Devis Mangia before the Christmas break.

Last weekend's 3-1 loss extended Palermo's winless run to five games and dropped them to 11th place.

Palermo have taken just three points - all from draws - away from home so far.

"It's clear that we need to do better," Palermo midfielder Giulio Migliaccio said. "We've had three coaching changes in six months and that has affected the group.

"I'm confident we can recover, we just need to find balance."