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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
PALERMO  Viviano Pisano, Migliaccio, Mantovani, Balzaretti Barreto, Donati, Bertolo Ilicic Budan, Miccoli | ROMA  Lobont Rosi, Kjaer, Heinze, Jose Angel Simplicio, De Rossi, Gago Bojan, Borini, Lamela |
After being battered 4-0 on home soil last weekend, Palermo are aiming to bounce back and add another win to their formidable home record and make up ground on Roma, who they trail by four points in the Serie A standings as both teams still have an outside chance of ending the season in a Europa League qualifying spot.
Coach Bertolo Mutti welcomes the return of left-back Federico Balzaretti from suspension but is still without defensive midfielder Armin Bacinovic and centre-back Matias Silvestre, who is suffering from a right thigh problem. Josip Ilicic has had a sub-par season, but may edge Eran Zahavi to the playmaker position behind the two strikers.
Meanwhile, Giallorossi boss Luis Enrique has plenty of key absences to deal with following the 2-1 Rome derby loss to Lazio last weekend.
Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who picked up a controversial early sending off in that clash versus Edy Reja's side, is suspended along with striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and defender Marco Cassetti.
There is also bad news from the treatment table: Brazilian centre-back Juan looks set to skip the majority of the remainder of the season due to a knee injury, so Simon Kjaer could be in the starting XI against his former team, and ex-Lyon midfielder Miralem Pjanic is out for three weeks.
However, the most prominent name missing could be Roma captain Francesco Totti, the veteran had to leave training early on Thursday after suffering a mild strain to his right quadriceps muscle and is a doubt to feature in Sicily.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Palermo have earned 30 points at Stadio Renzo Barbera and are tied for the best points total on home soil this season along with Udinese.
- The Rosanero have not lost to Roma in Sicily since 2007 during league action, when they suffered a 2-0 defeat.
- Mutti's men had won in four in a row at home before losing to AC Milan in their last match.
- Roma have picked up eight red cards this season, more than any other team in Italy's top flight.
- Totti has only scored in two matches this season and has four goals in total, bagging doubles against Chievo and Cesena.
- The Giallorossi have only won two of their last eight Serie A matches.
Prediction
Based on the suspensions and injuries Roma have to deal with, as well as Palermo's impressive record at Stadio Renzo Barbera in 2011-12, the Sicilians will be relatively confident of adding another three points to their season tally.
Editor's Prediction
Palermo 2-1 Roma 
