Negative balance at the peak, slightly positive in the general calculation. The precedents between Spezia and Palermo smile on both teams, based on their points of view. They remain tied to the general count, in fact, Ligurians and Sicilians practically divide the statistics with a slight advantage in favor of the rosanero. The overall balance of the previous ones, in fact, has 18 challenges with a clear predominance of the x sign, achieved 9 times. Then, 5 victories for Palermo against 4 for the La Spezia team.
Speaking of draws, the one in the first round at the Renzo Barbera was unforgettable. The guests led 2-0 thanks to goals from Reca and Esposito, the Bianconeri were reached first by Mancuso’s goal and then by the splendid goal from a free kick scored by Stulac in the 104th minute. A roar of joy from the of the Rosanero people, who filled the stands of the Barbera with 30 thousand units, which the Spezia coach himself defined as “unforgettable”.
However, the balance changes radically if we analyze the matches that the two teams played at Picco della Spezia. In this case, the hosts play the role of protagonists with 3 victories out of the 8 matches played. Then, 4 draws and only one victory by Palermo, even 92 years away, obtained in 1932. Spezia and Palermo, in fact, are two clubs that have been battling since the 1930s. The only time the Rosanero managed to beat the Picco was thanks to goals from Banchero and Ruffino for the final 2-1 in favor of the guests. At the end of the year Palermo managed to obtain their first promotion to Serie A, a category in which they remained for 4 seasons. Returning to the second division in 1935-36, the Rosanero managed to snatch another 1-1 against the Bianconeri. Calzolai scored for the hosts and Di Falco for the guests. In the following years, however, there were 2 defeats in a row (1-0 in 1937-38, 3-0 in 1938-39). Not even the Palermo of Iachini’s records, the 2013/14 season, managed to emerge from La Spezia unscathed: 1-0 for the Bianconeri due to Munoz’s own goal (Gattuso was still on the bench as coach). The last two precedents, however, carry the x sign. In the 2017-2018 season it ended 0-0, while in the following season, 1-1: Palermo took the lead with Falletti (the goal in the photo) and a Ligurian draw with Capradossi.
In short, the match between Spezia and Palermo is a match in which balance reigns supreme and the 5 seasons away from the last match do not help to understand the real differences between the two teams, now competing for different objectives which will certainly be conveyed by the final result this afternoon. A draw, as happened in 50% of matches, may not be of any use to either team.
