Palermo vs AS Roma preview - Zamparini seeks response

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini is confident his team can bounce back from last weekend's poor display against AC Milan when they take on Roma.

The Sicilians lost 4-0 at home to Milan - their second straight defeat and their third at La Favorita this season.

"With all due respect to Roma, they are not Milan," Zamparini said. "Milan are a very strong side and they proved that against us.

"We should have played better against them but Milan have great technique.

"I don't know why my team has ups and downs at this stage of the campaign but I am nevertheless confident my team can do well against Roma.

"Both teams will go out for the win and we cannot afford any further slips."

Palermo's poor spell has seen them drop to ninth in the standings, four points behind Roma, who are sixth.

Bortolo Mutti's side have struggled in every department, having given away nine goals in the last two league games while finding the back of the net just once.

Roma, meanwhile, lost 2-1 to Lazio in the city derby in the last round to suffer their first defeat at home since October 23.

The result followed their 4-1 loss at Atalanta.

Roma have won just one of their last four league games and remain winless on the road since December 21.

"We have to continue to fight until the end," Roma coach Luis Enrique said.

"We must put the derby loss behind us and concentrate on taking three points at Palermo."

Roma's task will be further complicated by the absences of defender Juan and midfielder Miralem Pjanic, both out injured.

Moreover, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, defender Marco Cassetti and striker Daniel Osvaldo are all suspended.