With just three games left and nine points to play for, the match held at the Stadio Matusa had six-pointer written all over it.
Despite every month in 2016 seeing a new manager at Palermo, the Sicilians still had a hope of remaining in Serie A. Having picked up just 11 points since the turn of the new year, if it weren’t for the equally poor form of Frosinone and Carpi, Palermo would already be packing their bags and on their way down to the second division.
In March, Palermo’s controversial owner and Chairman Maurizio Zamparini predicted that his side would finish seven points ahead of Frosinone: “Serie B? I won’t have it. We’ll finish seven points ahead of Frosinone… they have Serie B players.”
Since those comments were made Palermo have had an awful run of form, but after today’s win they now lie two points ahead the Gialloazzurri and have the preferable fixture list for the remaining games.
Palermo face Sampdoria, Fiorentina and Verona whilst Frosinone come up against Milan, Sassuolo and Napoli. Relegation rivals Carpi, who have a game in hand, face arguably the toughest run of games in the form of Empoli, Juventus, Lazio and Udinese, but are currently ahead of both Frosinone and Palermo in the table by two points and goal difference respectively. A win for Carpi at home to Empoli would most likely resign Frosinone to relegation, but hope still remains for Palermo.
If today was anything to go by Palermo will need to come up with a lot more than what they brought to Frosinone. The Sicilians were on the back foot for the most part throughout almost the entirety of the match, with both goals coming from counter-attacks and gifted by very poor defending. Whilst Zamparini may be right about Frosinone being a Serie B side, his own team don’t look much better.
There’s little say about the first-half, in which Frosinone dominated, but were unable to capitalise upon any of the few chances they created. Paganini had the best chance of the half, but was unable to keep his header down, an opportunity that Frosinone would go on to deeply regret missing. With Palermo digging their heels in and refusing to be drawn into a back and forth tie, Frosinone were forced to play higher up the pitch and thus left themselves vulnerable at the back on the counter.
Palermo pounced on this weakness early on in the second-half after a spade of chances went Frosinone’s way. A rough few minutes for Palermo then allowed them counter after eventually clearing the ball and it was Alberto Gilardino who finished the move with a towering header over Nicola Leali, who reacted far too slowly.
In a bid to find a goal a reclaim at least a point, Frosinone turned up the heat on Palermo and put Ballardini’s side under more and more pressure late on in the match.
The match finished much as the rest of it had played out. Palermo had their backs to the wall and after a flourish of chances for Frosinone and wasted opportunities, Palermo again countered and it was Aleksander Travkovski who found the killing blow. The Macedonian was given enough time and space to almost waltz through the Frosinone back-line and finish.
In their remaining games Palermo have two very winnable ties against Sampdoria and Verona, and despite their roller coaster season, with seven different managers being in charge at one point or another, Palermo have a very good opportunity to make up for lost time.
From start to finish the season has been a disaster. The loss of Paulo Dybala and drop off in form of Franco Vazquez has hit the Sicilians harder than many thought it would. However, the matches against Sampdoria and Verona could yet save Palermo and see Zamparini’s prophetic prediction come true.
The post Match Recap: Frosinone 0 – 2 Palermo appeared first on IFD.
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