Five points clear and rotating – Inzaghi’s Palermo test their depth against Carrarese
Palermo lead Serie B by five points after six wins and a draw, and Filippo Inzaghi now faces three games in seven days. Corriere dello Sport reports he will rotate against Carrarese, with Wednesday’s trip to third-placed Pisa in mind. Carrarese are 14th, with only six goals scored, although they won 2-0 at Padova and beat Modena 2-1 in their last two games.
Palermo have won all three home league games this season and scored 16 goals in seven matches overall.
Predicted lineups: Palermo vs Carrarese
Rotation is the main topic in Palermo. According to Corriere dello Sport, centre-back Mattia Bani, who has started every league game and recently had surgery on his hand, could be rested, with Magnani taking his place. Pierozzi could start at right-back, while Hernani is expected to come in for Antonio Palumbo, who is being saved for Pisa. Segre and Ranocchia stay in midfield. Federico Barba and Gabriel Strefezza are injured, and second-choice goalkeeper Jesse Joronen is also out. Carrarese have no major new absences. The Palermo line-up follows Corriere dello Sport’s report; Carrarese’s is based on their last league line-up.
Palermo Team News & Preview
Dennis Tørset Johnsen has been Palermo’s standout player so far. The Norwegian has four goals and five assists, and his FotMob rating of 8.21 is the best in the squad. Palermo average 2.3 goals and 6.1 shots on target per game, and they have won their last three, including 4-2 at Empoli and 2-0 at Mantova, the side in second place.
At the Barbera they have won all three league games: 1-0 against Juve Stabia, 3-1 against Sampdoria and 2-1 against Padova. Local reports say Inzaghi has enough depth to treat the whole squad as starters, which is why he feels able to rotate. The risk is that changes in defence and the attacking midfield take away some of the fluency.
What works for or against Palermo
- Unbeaten in Serie B and five points clear.
- Tørset Johnsen has four goals and five assists.
- Three home league games, three wins.
- Inzaghi is expected to rotate with Pisa on Wednesday.
Carrarese Team News & Preview
Carrarese are a side that defend well but rarely threaten. They have conceded only seven goals, the same as Palermo, but have scored six and average just 40% possession. Their two recent wins have lifted them away from the bottom, but they lost three of their first five games 1-0.
Away from home they have one win, one draw and one defeat, with the win coming at Padova. They line up in a 3-5-2 and spend long spells without the ball, with Fabio Abiuso and Tommaso Rubino up front. Midfielder Niccolò Belloni said they will go to Palermo „without fear“.
What works for or against Carrarese
- Only seven league goals conceded.
- Back-to-back league wins.
- Six goals in seven league games.
- Lost 5-0 on their last visit to Palermo.
Palermo vs Carrarese Odds
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Palermo vs. Carrarese Stats Comparison
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Palermo vs. Carrarese Form Guide
Palermo Form, Stats & Data
Palermo create more than two expected goals per game, the clearest sign that their position is no fluke. They do allow chances, though, at 1.57 expected goals against per game, so their goals-against record flatters them slightly.
Carrarese Form, Stats & Data
Carrarese’s expected goals are better than their actual return, but 3.4 shots on target per game is low. With 40% possession, they will spend long spells without the ball at the Barbera, so they need to be very efficient on the break.
Palermo vs Carrarese: Prediction & Betting Tip
The leaders against a side that has scored six goals all season. Palermo have won every home game, average more than six shots on target and have a match-winner in Tørset Johnsen. Carrarese defend well, but they offer little going forward and have lost three games 1-0 already this season.
Rotation is the risk. With Pisa on Wednesday, Inzaghi will change his defence and attacking midfield, and Carrarese have conceded only seven goals. A narrow game is possible. But Palermo’s squad is strong enough that the second string should still be better than the visitors. I am taking Palermo to win at 1.40 with Winz and expect a 2-0 home win.