Pisa just keep marching on. Pippo Inzaghi’s side are unbeaten in their last five games as they continue their push towards a return to the Italian top flight for the first time since 1991.

Last weekend, the Nerazzurri saw off the challenge of rock-bottom Salernitana with a slender 1-0 win. Stefano Moreno prodded home the winner early in the second half after the away side failed to deal with a long throw into the box.

It was only the veteran striker’s third goal of the season, but it was a crucial one and it kept Inzaghi’s side apace with Sassuolo at the top of the table.

“It’s crazy what these lads are doing,” remarked Inzaghi post-game. Pisa were not among the favourites to contend for promotion this season, but with the campaign well over the halfway stage they’re still massively overachieving. 

Only two points separate the two sides at the top, and Pisa travel south this weekend to face a Palermo side on an upward trajectory in recent weeks.

There are still signs of inconsistency from the Rosanero, but considering their terrible start to the season, Alessio Dionisi’s men have started to put enough wins together to climb up the table.

They’ve won three of the last five, which is somewhat remarkable in itself considering they won only five from the first 18 games. 

Yet their good form came to a halt at the weekend with a surprise 2-1 defeat by Reggiana. Goals from Lorenzo Lucchesi and Alessandro Sersanti caused an upset. Dionisi wasn’t particularly happy with the result, nor the performance, and lamented the home side’s two goals.

“We didn’t want the result,” said the coach in his post-match press conference. “After two home wins it was time to do it away also, but we didn’t succeed. 

“Partly because of our own fault, because we conceded two very avoidable goals, which affected the whole match. The second [half] was ugly to watch.”

Now Palermo welcome Pisa to the Stadio Renzo Barbera in what’s arguably the standout fixture of the round. They’ve only lost twice at home all season, and despite the loss in Reggio Emilia, Palermo will prove a serious threat to Pisa.

The Siclian side have bolstered the squad this week with the signing of Giangiacomo Magnani from Serie A side Verona. Magnani had made 17 appearances for Hellas in Serie A this season, but has swapped a relegation scrap in the top tier for a potential promotion tilt in the second.

Meanwhile, another signing might be on the cards in the shape of Venezia hitman Joel Pohjanpalo. Pohjanpalo has scored six goals in 20 games for the Venetian side this season, but Palermo have reportedly identified the Finland international as the someone to end their profligacy in front of goal.

Palermo have only scored 24 goals in 23 games, the joint-worst attack of sides currently in the top 10, and Pohjanpalo’s arrival could be timely. It’s reported that the 30-year-old has agreed a three-year deal.

Yet that’s all to come. For now, welcoming Pisa to the Barbera is the uppermost thought in Dionisi’s mind. The former Sassuolo coach was bullish when asked about his side’s chances against Pisa.

“They have the second best attack, the second best defence and, obviously the table tells us that they’re playing better than us, but yes, we can play the game with different qualities,” he told reporters.

These two sides last met at the beginning of the season, when Pisa secured a 2-0 win at the Garibaldi on match day two. Dionisi will be hoping for a different outcome this time around.

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