Palermo have had a difficult run of games recently. The Rosanero squared off against high-flying Pisa at the Stadio Renzo Barbera last week, culminating in a 2-1 defeat for Alessio Dionisi’s men.

This week it doesn’t get any easier, as they travel north to Liguria to face a Spezia side attempting to put a run of wins together that will further widen the gap between themselves in third and the chasing pack, and in the process cancel the promotion play-off for the season.

At present, Spezia sit some 11 points clear of fourth-placed Cremonese. Per Serie B stipulations, if the gap between third and fourth is bigger than 14 points then the play-offs do not go ahead. If this is to be the case this season, then all of Sassuolo, Pisa and Spezia would go up automatically.

This hasn’t happened since the 2006-07 season, but Spezia are on course to change that. Therefore many a neutral, who cherish the chaos and excitement of the promotion play-offs, are secretly hoping Spezia begin to drop points in the coming months. This is why everyone outside of La Spezia will be cheering on for the Rosanero in Sunday’s clash.

Luca D’Angelo’s side have been on a terrific run of form lately. Three consecutive wins — with one of them being over table-toppers Sassuolo — has seen the Aquilotti begin to pull away from Cremonese in recent weeks.

Moreover, D’Angelo’s side boast the best defensive record in Serie B, conceding a measly 15 goals in 24 games. 

Anchored at the back by Bulgarian Petko Hristov and Nicolo Bertola, with Adam Nagy and Salvatore Esposito (no, not that Salvatore Esposito) mopping up in midfield, Spezia have proven to be resolute in defence for the majority of the campaign.

This has resulted in 13 clean sheets, and Dionisi will know his side need to be at the top of their game if they’re to penetrate Spezia’s defence.

Their cause has been helped with the arrival of Finnish striker Joel Pohjanpalo from Venezia for just under €5m. The decision to sell the 30-year-old baffled some, especially with the Venetians still in with a fighting chance of surviving Serie A relegation.

Pohjanpalo had netted six times in Italy’s top flight this season despite Venezia’s struggles, and he’s likely to find chances easier to come by in Serie B with Palermo.

City Football Group, who have owned Palermo since 2022, have been criticised by a portion of the fanbase, but they’ve invested in the squad in the winter window in order to make a surge for promotion in the final months of the season.

Moreover, former Sampdoria and Juventus goalkeeper Emil Audero was also signed from Como on a loan deal to add vital experience. 

The club’s sporting director, Carlo Osti, believes we’ll see a new Palermo. “Our championship starts on Sunday,” he said. “A big thank you to the City Football Group for the support, without the ownership we wouldn’t have been able to make these signings.”

The spending now means the pressure has grown substantially on Dionisi to get results. The Rosanero currently lie eighth in the table, and a potential win against Spezia not only helps their promotion ambitions, but also keeps the prospects of a play-off alive.

Pohjanpalo is likely to make his debut from the start in Liguria. Palermo, in addition to everyone in the promotion chase, will be hoping he can bring down Serie B’s tightest defence. 

Yet Spezia have a hitman of their own at the top of his game in the shape of Francesco Pio Esposito (the aforementioned Salvatore’s brother), with the youngest Esposito sibling already on 11 goals this season and the league’s top marksman.

If Dionisi’s men can keep him quiet, then they have every chance of leaving Liguria with all three points. But that’s easier said than done.

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