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Palermo vs AC Milan

Palermo vs AC Milan
2016/17 Italian Serie A.
Date: Sunday, 06 November 2016
Kick-Off: 14:00 UK,
Venue: Stadio Renzo Barbera (Palermo).

AC Milan will hope to take advantage of Palermo’s bad form as the Rossoneri hope to continue their push for a Champions League spot.

The Diavolo are now in their third season sans European football, but hope has returned to the Stadio San Siro. They currently find themselves in an excellent third spot and have picked up wins over teams like Juventus, which surely will do wonders for Vincenzo Montella’s confidence. Although they were given a rude shock by Genoa, they rebounded by grinding out a 1-0 win over Pescara. It wasn’t pretty, but it was the result they needed and they now have won four out of their past five Serie A games.

Heading into this round, they sit in third spot, but with Napoli (5th) and Lazio (4th) locking horns on Saturday, Milan will come into this game knowing that they will need to make sure they avoid dropping points. Whatever the outcome from the Partenopei vs. Biancocelesti tie, their spot in third will come under major threat. Fortunately, perhaps, their upcoming hosts, Palermo, have been in terrible form as of late. If the Rossoneri are battling for a Champions League spot, the Sicilian side are battling just to stay afloat.

Years of constantly going through an unfortunate managerial merry-go-round – no doubt, in thanks to club owner Maurizio Zamparini’s tendency to sack, hire, and re-hire quickly – have really hampered their success. After all, having to deal with a new manager and new tactical formations is never an easy feat for any team, and this season has been nothing short of an exercise in futility so far.

Most teams do better at home. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for Palermo. The Rosanero have lost all their home games this term and three out of those five defeats have been by more than one goal. The hosts are on a four match losing streak, having failed to get the better of Cagliari, and for all intents and purposes, look set to head into the international hiatus on the back of a fifth straight defeat.

Palermo vs AC Milan: Head-to-head statistics

Milan have scored at least two goals in seven out of their past eight games against Palermo (across all comps)
The Rossoneri have won eight, drawn five, and lost seven out of their last 20 away games against teams ranked below them in the table
Palermo have won only one out of their last 20 home games against teams ranked higher than them in the table (four draws, 15 losses)
The Rosanero have lost their past five home league games
Palermo last beat Milan on November 2, 2014 (2-0); since then they’ve lost their past three meetings

Palermo vs AC Milan: Prediction

With Milan in the form they are in and Palermo floundering, this will be a major case of damage control for the Rosanero. They have shipped at least two goals in their past four league games and as noted before, have yet to win a match on home turf. Roberto De Zerbi, who has seen his team pick up just one point from their past six games, surely will be looking for a new job after the international hiatus. In fact, it’s quite surprising that Zamparini hasn’t sacked him already.

In any case, Milan will not have a better chance to wrap up proceedings before the break with a win in hand. Given that there have been over 2.5 goals scored in Palermo’s past four matches, coupled with the Diavolo’s strong attack, Montella’s men should cruise to victory here. Palermo may be able to nick a goal, but that’s just about it.