Palermo vs. Mantova - prediction, team news, lineups

Less than a period aft stunning victories implicit Serie A clubs, Palermo and Mantova tussle successful the 2nd circular of the Coppa Italia, aiming to beforehand to the circular of 16.

Filippo Inzaghi's broadside took down Lecce 2-0 connected location soil, portion Mantova secured a historical triumph implicit Lazio astatine the Olimpico, frankincense mounting up Thursday's all-Serie B clash astatine Stadio Renzo Barbera.

Match preview

The temper successful Mantua, Lombardy, is astir apt inactive 1 of elation aft Francesco Modesto's squad got the amended of Lazio successful a historical upset successful the circular of 64 successful mid-August.

Less than 4 months ago, the superior nine competed successful the rubric lucifer against Inter Milan, a last they mislaid 2-0, but fewer would person tipped them to endure a large humiliation against Mantova.

However, the victory, aided by precocious Francesco Ruocco and Ismael Cajazzo goals successful the 75th and 96th minutes, stunned the astir bare Olimpico successful Gennaro Gattuso's bow.

The reward for that stunning triumph puts the White and Reds wrong 1 triumph of reaching the past 16 for the archetypal clip successful recorded history.

In fact, the second-tier nine person not made it this acold since the 2009-10 season, erstwhile they reached the 3rd circular successful the competition's aged format earlier losing 3-0 to Chievo successful the circular of 32, but they anticipation for a antithetic result this clip around.

With 2 Serie B wins pursuing their ground-breaking 2-0 occurrence implicit Lazio, the travelling fans volition person crushed to beryllium encouraged up of facing Inzaghi's men connected Thursday.

Palermo, similar the broadside they big successful the circular of 32, bushed a top-flight nine to scope this stage, albeit the Eagles' occurrence implicit Lecce was not arsenic high-profile.

Nonetheless, the erstwhile striker's restitution astatine defeating a Serie A broadside indispensable person been palpable, and Le Aquile present participate Thursday alert of their unbeaten grounds against the motivated Mantova.

Not since March 1963 person the Rosanero suffered a nonaccomplishment successful this fixture, adjacent if a person look admittedly reveals that 7 of the recorded 8 matches — arsenic per Transfermarkt — since person ended successful stalemates.

However, Inzaghi's men got the amended of the Biancorossi successful the astir caller gathering successful March, securing a 2-1 triumph successful a lucifer that saw some sides reduced to 10 men.

While the hosts are three-time finalists — 1974, 1979 and 2011 — and person antecedently made it to the second rounds, not since 2012 person they reached the past 16, and they purpose to extremity that drought by beating their visitors connected Thursday.

Palermo Coppa Italia form:

Palermo signifier (all competitions):

Mantova Coppa Italia form:

Mantova signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Jesse Joronen went disconnected aft 5 minutes successful past month's triumph implicit Lecce, and the goalkeeper's enarthrosis wounded sidelines him for the circular of 32 clash.

Dennis Johnsen has been Palermo's antheral of the play truthful far, scoring 2 and assisting arsenic galore aft 3 competitory games, portion Joel Pohjanpalo has scored and assisted 1 each up of the home cupful encounter.

As for Mantova, Ruocco has scored successful each competitory lucifer for Modesto's men, and the attacking midfielder volition anticipation to beryllium decisive for the visitors successful Lombardy.

Atalanta loanee Vanja Vlahovic is undoubtedly successful contention to commencement aft his stunning debut for the Biancorossi against Empoli past weekend, scoring and assisting successful the 3-1 victory.

On the wounded front, lone Nicolo Radaelli is the evident concern, having not played for the nine from the Lombardy portion since April.

Palermo imaginable starting lineup:

Fortin; Pierozzi, Peda, Ceccaroni, Augello; Segre, Ranocchia; Vavassori, Palumbo, Johnsen; Pohjanpalo

Mantova imaginable starting lineup:

Bardi; Tomasevic, Cella, Castellini; Silva, Trimboli, Ignacchiti, Benaissa-Yahia; Ilie, Ruocco; Gliozzi

We say: Palermo 2-1 Mantova

Although Mantova stay buoyant pursuing their historical triumph implicit Lazio, overcoming a seasoned Palermo outfit astatine Stadio Renzo Barbera represents an wholly antithetic tactical challenge.

With Johnsen and Pohjanpalo some successful scintillating form, Inzaghi's men should person conscionable capable final-third prime to borderline a tightly contested brushwood and unafraid their transition to the past 16.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.