Palermo vs Parma preview - Palermo ready to respond to doubters

Posted Wednesday, April 25, 2012 by PA

Palermo will attempt to silence their critics when they host Parma at La Favorita.

The Sicilian outfit has endured a nightmarish spell having won just one of their last nine games.

Sunday's 2-2 draw at rock-bottom Cesena left Palermo in 11th place, level on 41 points with Bologna and Parma.

"On Wednesday we want to give our fans some joy by clinching a win," Palermo coach Bortolo Mutti said. "It's not going to be easy because Parma are playing well and we have struggled to get results at home of late.

"I see my players very motivated."

Palermo have not won at home since beating Lazio 5-1 on February 19. Since then, they have mustered one point from a possible 12 in Sicily.

Fortunately for the hosts, Parma have won just twice on the road this season.

However, the Ducale club travels south in good spirits.

Parma followed their 2-0 triumph over Novara with a 3-0 victory over Cagliari on Sunday.

The result lifted Roberto Donadoni's side six points clear of the drop zone with five games remaining.

"We have won three of our last four games and we are on the right path," Parma defender Cristian Zaccardo said. "The fact that we have not conceded any goals in our last two games is down to the hard work we have done in training.

"We are trying to limit our mistakes and we are being rewarded.

"Now we have five more games and we want to end the season in the best possible way."

The home side will be without Argentinian midfielder Nicolas Bertolo, who serves a one-match ban.