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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
PALERMO  Viviano Munoz, Migliaccio, Mantovani Pisano, Barreto, Donati, Della Rocca, Bertolo Budan, Miccoli | AC MILAN  Abbiati Abate, Bonera, Thiago Silva, Antonini Nocerino, Van Bommel, Muntari Emanuelson Ibrahimovic, Robinho |
Palermo will want to put any memories of the 4-1 defeat by Siena behind them as they host the champions at the Renzo Barbera on Saturday, but must contend with a few noticeable absences.
Coach Bertolo Mutti has a bit of a defensive crisis on his hands with left-back Federico Balzaretti suspended due to his early red card in last Sunday's heavy loss and injury to Matias Silvestre, so he may switch to a 3-5-2 and push Eros Pisano forward into midfield and drop Giulio Migliaccio into the middle of the defence.
Playmaker Josip Ilicic has struggled for form in recent weeks, so Igor Budan should retain his place in attack alongside club hero Fabrizio Miccoli. Uruguayan striker Abel Hernandez may be fit enough for a place on the bench.
Meanwhile, Milan receive a welcome boost as Zlatan Ibrahimovic has served his three-match ban for slapping Napoli's Salvatore Aronica and will immediately be back in the starting XI as Alexandre Pato's injury nightmare continues with the Brazilian suffering yet another muscle strain.
Allegri will have little choice but to field Daniele Bonera at centre-back with Alessandro Nesta yet to fully heal from a knee problem and Philippe Mexes banned for three matches after video evidence caught him giving a punch to Juventus' Marco Borriello during their 1-1 draw.
Kevin-Prince Boateng, Alberto Aquiliani and Clarence Seedorf are all still nursing their respective knocks so Urby Emanuelson will play in behind the two strikers Ibrahimovic and Robinho.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Palermo have picked up 30 of their 34 points on home soil this season with a record of 10 wins and two losses at the Renzo Barbera.
- Miccoli has seven goals in eight Serie A matches since the start of 2012.
- The Rosanero are the team that has scored the most at home the season, hitting the back of the net 31 times and scoring an average of 2.58 goals per game on their Sicilian ground.
- AC Milan were on a three-match winning streak before being halted by Scudetto rivals Juventus in a 1-1 draw last Saturday.
- The Rossoneri have scored 24 times on the road this season, more than any other team in Serie A.
- Pato has only scored once this campaign in 11 league appearances.
Palermo's attacking style often makes for entertaining matches and one can expect an open game in Sicily, but with Ibrahimovic's return and Robinho in good form, Milan should be able to get a draw or better despite the Renzo Barbera acting as a fortress for the Rosanero this season.
Editor's Prediction
Palermo 2-3 Milan 
