Palermo vs AS Roma preview - Andreazzoli wary of Palermo threat

Posted Saturday, March 30, 2013 by PA

Roma head coach Aurelio Andreazzoli will not underestimate Palermo's determination to spoil Francesco Totti's big night at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.

The 36-year-old celebrated 20 years as a Serie A player this week and his quest to overhaul Silvio Piola's all-time scoring record of 274 continues against the league's bottom side.

But with Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini doubling this season's survival bonus for his players, who are five points adrift of 17th-placed Genoa, Andreazzoli knows the trip to Sicily will be fraught with danger.

He told La Repubblica:" The league table says that we are better than them but experience teaches me what it can be like to take on the league's bottom side.

"You don't encounter the same difficulties as you would meeting the top team, though, so we do have a good opportunity to bring home maximum points."

With the Rome derby following this match, reports have suggested Andreazzoli could conduct his pre-match press conference alongside Lazio boss Vladimir Petkovic in what would be an unprecedented move.

"It would be a pleasure if I got the chance to know him beforehand," he added.

"He's a person I really admire for how he carries himself, for what he has done and for his educated approach to everything.

"It could be an interesting thing to do that would get people talking while reminding them it is just a game of football, no matter how important it is."

Midfielders Miralem Pjanic and Simone Perotta and defender Marquinhos are struggling for fitness but striker Mattia Destro is finally ready for action following a leg injury.

Palermo are missing striker Abel Hernandez and midfielder Andrea Mantovani for a game goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino has described as a must-win encounter.

He said: "We are ready for the final nine games and we believe in ourselves. We know we have to put one last run together and we're ready to do it.

"We have always given our all but the results have not arrived. We need to try harder to be more compact and move forward in more organised patterns.

"Roma are a team full of champions but we cannot focus on our opponents, we have to think about what we do and getting all three points.

"(Head coach Giuseppe) Sannino has faith in us and gives us encouragement so we're all behind him and preparing hard for the Roma game."