Palermo vs. Udinese, Preview: Rosanero need to dent the Zebrette’s European hopes

Palermo's recent resurgence came to an end with defeat to Juventus on the weekend, though need to bounce straight back at the Renzo Barbera on Wednesday. A loss to Udinese couldn't mathematically condemn the rosanero to Serie B, though would make survival an even tougher ask for a side whose season only seemed to start in March.

Unfortunately, they host an Udinese side on red-hot form. The zebrette have won five games consecutively, and will likely move above Roma and into the Europa League spots with just a draw. Their annual charge towards Europe is well and truly underway. It'll be up to Palermo to keep Antonio Di Natale -- who has scored six goals in his last seven games -- quiet, though the division's second-worst attack will be relieved see the Friulani travelling to Sicily with a fair chunk taken out of their defence.

That's because Udinese are without centre-backs Danilo and Maurizio Domizzi through suspension, while midfielder Giampiero Pinzi has a one-match ban and playmaker Flavio Lazzari is out through injury. Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu looks set to come into the starting eleven, and Gabriel Silva will return.

For Palermo, only Massimo Donati's suspension makes him their only absentee. Andrea Mantovani will return from his lengthy injury, though will almost certainly only find a place on the bench. Alejandro Faurlín is expected to make only his fourth start in the centre of midfield, while the ever-shaky Santiago García will probably be dropped in favour of Andrea Dossena.