Palermo's season may have lost some of its lustre since the turn of the year but a place in the UEFA Cup will be almost within touching distance if they can beat already-relegated Ascoli on Sunday.
For much of the early part of the season the Sicilians were genuine title contenders before Internazionale stormed clear in what would eventually prove to be a stroll to the Scudetto.
But a slump in form has seen them slip out of the Champions League places with a berth in the UEFA Cup now the objective for the Rosaneri.
Their attacking midfielder Roberto Guana told club website www.ilpalermocalcio.it: "We will face the Ascoli match hoping we can obtain those three points that would allow us to have the certainty of playing in the next UEFA Cup."
Guana believes that Ascoli may be liberated by the fact that, as they are already relegated, they have nothing to lose.
"We are going to try to win even if it is not going to be easy to win against a team that has nothing to lose in the championship," said Guana who will be playing against his former club.
"Only after the match against the Bianconeri will we think about the home match against Siena, a match we want to win at all costs to sign off in style in front of our home supporters."
Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono now appears to be the favourite to take over as coach in the summer with Renzo Gobbo only the interim boss since the sacking of Francesco Guidolin.
With long-term casualty Amauri Carvalho joined on the sidelines by Andrea Carraciolo, the opportunity is there for Radoslaw Matusiak to star for Palermo on Sunday.
Ascoli coach Nedo Sonetti, whose team has been jinxed with suspensions and injuries, will have Michele Fini and Luigi Di Biagio available for the match against the visitors from Sicily but Italian international striker Marco Delvecchio remains sidelined with injury.
Sonetti has no complaints about the way his team has performed ever since he replaced the sacked Attilio Tesser in the hotseat at the Stadio Del Duca.
"The table may say that we are at the bottom of the division," said Sonetti. "But my boys are the best in terms of how they have competed in this championship.
"During the season we have been dogged by problems that have hindered our ability to compete in the top flight but we have always played our games with great commitment and sporting values."
The indications from the board are that Sonetti will remain in charge of a club that was already in dire straits when he took the reins earlier in the season.
But a slump in form has seen them slip out of the Champions League places with a berth in the UEFA Cup now the objective for the Rosaneri.
Their attacking midfielder Roberto Guana told club website www.ilpalermocalcio.it: "We will face the Ascoli match hoping we can obtain those three points that would allow us to have the certainty of playing in the next UEFA Cup."
Guana believes that Ascoli may be liberated by the fact that, as they are already relegated, they have nothing to lose.
"We are going to try to win even if it is not going to be easy to win against a team that has nothing to lose in the championship," said Guana who will be playing against his former club.
"Only after the match against the Bianconeri will we think about the home match against Siena, a match we want to win at all costs to sign off in style in front of our home supporters."
Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono now appears to be the favourite to take over as coach in the summer with Renzo Gobbo only the interim boss since the sacking of Francesco Guidolin.
With long-term casualty Amauri Carvalho joined on the sidelines by Andrea Carraciolo, the opportunity is there for Radoslaw Matusiak to star for Palermo on Sunday.
Ascoli coach Nedo Sonetti, whose team has been jinxed with suspensions and injuries, will have Michele Fini and Luigi Di Biagio available for the match against the visitors from Sicily but Italian international striker Marco Delvecchio remains sidelined with injury.
Sonetti has no complaints about the way his team has performed ever since he replaced the sacked Attilio Tesser in the hotseat at the Stadio Del Duca.
"The table may say that we are at the bottom of the division," said Sonetti. "But my boys are the best in terms of how they have competed in this championship.
"During the season we have been dogged by problems that have hindered our ability to compete in the top flight but we have always played our games with great commitment and sporting values."
The indications from the board are that Sonetti will remain in charge of a club that was already in dire straits when he took the reins earlier in the season.
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Reja contemplates new Lazio signings
Milan's Amelia requests transfer
