Palermo in Serie B: 1-0 to Padova thanks to a goal from Brunori

In the overcrowded Barbera, a party unimaginable until a few months ago takes place: Palermo beats Padova 1-0 and returns to Serie B after three seasons and after the dust of failure, condemning Padova to the second consecutive knockout in a playoff final (a year ago, Alexandria celebrated). It is the masterpiece of Silvio Baldini, visionary and winning, who at the promotion – until a few weeks ago – seemed to believe it by himself. The Tuscan coach – sacked by Zamparini in 2004, in the previous Palermo experience – has instead created a perfect machine capable of 52 goals in the calendar year 2022, with the specialty of high ball recovery to trigger the top scorer of the entire Serie C. Matteo Brunori , this time decisive from the spot, he signed the 29th goal of his season and the fourth in the playoffs. After the controversial wedding of the last few days, the B is the best wedding gift. For Massimo Oddo’s team, followed in Sicily by 500 fans, an opaque performance on the most important evening of the season (however, the Italian Cup remains on the bulletin board). With the current playoff formula, Palermo is the third team (after Cosenza in 2018 and Pisa 2019) that manages to hit the B starting from a lower ranking position compared to second place.

THE MATCH

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After the narrow defeat at Euganeo, Padova must necessarily win and returns to 4-3-3 with Jelenic mezzala and Ceravolo dusted off in the middle of the attack. Palermo is the same as always: 4-2-3-1 sent by heart, Dall’Oglio – weighed down by an early warning – in place of the suspended Damiani. The pace is immediately high and the first opportunity is rosanero: Brunori points to Valentini and commits Donnarumma to the near post. The change of direction on the rosanero striker’s dribbling costs dear to the Argentine defender, who touches his right knee and asks for the change, leaving room for Gasbarro after 19 ‘. The time to regroup and the defense of Padova combines a mess: on a cross from the right trocar, Pelagatti jumps with his wide right arm and touches with his hand for a clear penalty. From the spot it is always Brunori, very cold, who puts Donnarumma on. At the interval Baldini changes the two yellow cards with the same role: Perrotta takes the place of Lancini in defense, Odjer takes over from Dall’Oglio adding substance in the middle of the field to draw what seems a more shrewd 4-4-2. In the second slot, Oddo (remaining 4-3-3) throws Della Latta in for Dezi and Nicastro for Bifulco. However, Padova does not change gears and – after a couple of occasions signed by Brunori and Floriano – he definitively cuts his legs by himself. Tested with Ronaldo at a standstill in Perrotta, Perenzoni is called to the on field review by Var Fabbri and sends the Portuguese to the locker room with the direct red. The climb, for guests, becomes very steep. In the whirlwind of changes, it is Terrani and Saber – who have just entered – to create the best starting point for Padua, with the header of the Italian-Tunisian who does not hit the goal. Donnarumma, with his by now on his outnumbered legs, must first say no to Luperini and then to Soleri to limit the damage. When the game has lost its meaning, Padua is even in nine for the second yellow remedied by Pelagatti. End titles and explosion of joy for the 34 thousand of Barbera.

THE FUTURE

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The Serie B became a reality at this point could accelerate the negotiations for the transfer of ownership of the rosanero club, which ended up in the sights of the City Group of Sheikh Mansour and – in recent days – also of the former patron of Rome James Pallotta. Next week will be decisive. But now, for the Palermo team and the city, it’s time to indulge in a very sweet night.