🌍 38: The Longest 90 Minutes — Palermo into Europe

⚔️ Final Day in Pisa — Hearts in Mouths

The away end at the Arena Garibaldi felt different. No flares, no easy songs, just that tight, nervous hum that comes when an entire season is balancing on one afternoon. Pisa were already relegated. Palermo, somehow, were one good result away from the European football. 

The permutations were simple on paper. Palermo started the day in 7th, level with Lazio and two points behind Como in 6th. To make Europe, Huber’s side needed to win or hope for a favour somewhere between Bologna–Como and Fiorentina–Lazio.

For the first twenty minutes, nothing much happened. Pisa dropped deep, happy to kill the tempo. Palermo shuffled the ball from side to side, struggling to find any incision. Then the first blow landed, not on the pitch, but through the murmurs in the away end. Como 1–0 Bologna. Heads turned. Phones came out. A few choice Sicilian curses drifted down the steps. Five minutes later came a ripple of relief: Bologna 1–1 Como.

On the grass, not much changed. Palermo still looked tight, passes overhit or undercooked. Haissem Hassan blazed over from the edge of the box on 40 minutes, the best chance of a lifeless half, and just before the whistle, more news filtered through. Como 2–1 Bologna. Palermo went into the break at 0–0, knowing Como were winning again and Fiorentina–Lazio was still goalless. Europe was still there but one Lazio goal would push them down to 8th.

Huber sent his players back out more aggressive. The line pushed higher, the risks were increased in possession. Yeremay, only just back from injury, was thrown on to try and crack open Pisa’s low block. The pattern, though, barely shifted. Palermo probed, but the final ball kept dying in a forest of Pisa shirts. On 81 minutes, the entire away section rose as one when Filippo Ranocchia finally found space on the edge of the box and curled a shot past the keeper—only to see it cannon back off the post and away. It felt like the moment.

Then came the worst kind of update: Lazio goal in Florence.

For a minute or two the away end sagged. Heads dropped. Some fans slumped back into their seats, staring at the pitch without really seeing it. Huber prowled his technical area, jabbing instructions forward with both hands, but the players looked like they were running in mud.

And then, salvation, not from Palermo, but from Tuscany’s other city. Fiorentina equaliser. 1–1.

Word spread like wildfire. A few fans began jumping again. Others shook their heads, muttering that it didn’t matter if Palermo couldn’t score themselves. On the pitch, Huber’s team kept pushing, but Pisa held firm. No late set piece, no scruffy rebound, no storybook winner.

The whistle went. Pisa 0–0 Palermo.

For a few seconds there was only confusion: half the away end booing, half checking the live table. Then the numbers appeared: Lazio held in Florence; Como winning but Inter’s Coppa Italia triumph had given an extra European place down the league.

Palermo, somehow, in 7th — and heading to Europe.

🎙️ Huber’s Verdict

If anyone expected a touchline sprint or a dive into the away end, they didn’t get it. Huber quickly clapped the away fans and then walked straight down the tunnel, face set. When he appeared for the post-match interviews, the mood was clear.

“We didn’t do our job today,” he said, jaw tight. “We wanted to win, we had to win, and we didn’t. I’m happy for the club, for the city, that we will play in Europe. But we can’t build something serious if we rely on other people to save us. This has to be a lesson.”

Pressed on whether the achievement still meant something, he relented just a little: “Of course it does. First season back, European football, that’s huge. But if we want to stay here, we must always demand more from ourselves than the table does.”

It was classic Huber: pride wrapped in frustration, already pushing the bar higher.

📰 Press & Fan Reaction

The headlines the next morning reflected that same tension — joy and criticism fused together.

• Giornale di Sicilia: “Palermo in Europa — ma che paura.”  (“Palermo in Europe — but what a scare.”)
• La Repubblica Palermo: “A historic qualification, achieved in the ugliest possible way. Huber’s team looked paralysed in Pisa but results elsewhere rescued them. The project breathes, but it still has growing up to do.”
• Corriere dello Sport: “From Serie B to Europe in two seasons: Palermo join the Conference League. The City Football Group will not ignore what Huber has built.”

On social media and in the bars around the city, the tone was softer. Supporters knew what mattered in the end.

“We were dead a few years ago,” one fan said outside the Barbera. “Now we’re going to Europe. Play badly all you want in Pisa — just get me that away day.”

🎉 More Joyous Nights in Palermo

By the time the team flight touched back down in Sicily, the calculations no longer mattered. Palermo, officially, would play European football next season. That alone was enough to turn a tense, scruffy final day into another night of celebration.

Cars once again circled the city centre, horns blaring, pink scarves hanging out of windows. In Piazza Politeama, a few hundred fans gathered with flags and banners, chanting “Siamo in Europa!” long into the night. It wasn’t the wild chaos of promotion, but something more surreal, a mix of disbelief and pride.

At the Palermo City Football Academy, a small crowd waited for the team coach. When Huber stepped off, they sang his name. He smiled for the first time all evening, raising a hand in acknowledgement. No barrier climbs in the Renzo Barbera this time, no flares at arm’s length, just a brief moment of connection between a demanding coach and a city that has already forgiven Pisa for the sake of European qualification.

Inside the training ground, the players shared photos from the dining hall: plastic cups, prosecco, a hastily drawn “Conference League” banner stuck to the wall. Tzimas and Turconi grinning into the camera; Corona wrapped in a flag; Hassan and Ranocchia squeezed into the frame.

Whatever the performance in Pisa, the bottom line is simple: Palermo are back on the continental stage.

📈 The Final Standings

👉 Next Up: End of Season Review & Checklist Progress. With Palermo remarkably back in Europe, we take a step back to look at Huber’s second season: the standout performers, the goals that shocked Serie A, and which long-term challenges have already been ticked off on the road to building Sicily’s club. 

👀 37: Eyes on the Finish Line

The plan for this season was simple: survive. With one game to go, Palermo are instead staring at something nobody dared speak aloud back in August, a European place. It’s still out of their hands, still hanging on favours and fine margins, but Huber’s side have dragged themselves to the brink of something historic.

The last few weeks have felt less like a run-in and more like a sprint.

📝 Match Reports

Matchday 33 — Palermo 4–0 Cagliari (H)

Back at the Renzo Barbera, Palermo delivered one of their most controlled performances of the season. Cagliari failed to register a single shot on target as Huber’s side smothered them from the first whistle. Haissem Hassan opened the scoring on 27 minutes, cutting inside and drilling low into the far corner, before Marco Turconi doubled the lead nine minutes later with a crisp half-volley. Palermo never let the tempo drop and added late gloss: Filippo Ranocchia stroked in the third on 85’, and hometown forward Giacomo Corona calmly slotted a fourth in stoppage time. A 4–0 scoreline and a statement of just how far this team has come.

Matchday 34 — Napoli 0–2 Palermo (A)

The Derby delle Due Sicilie brought a mature, ruthless Palermo to Naples. Having edged the first half but failed to convert, Huber’s men bided their time before landing two late punches. On 75 minutes, Christian Comotto squared for Stefanos Tzimas to tap home from close range. Eight minutes later, Tzimas timed his run to perfection, beating the offside trap and finishing coolly on 83’. A 2–0 win, a clean sheet, and another famous away performance in one of Italy’s fiercest southern derbies.

Matchday 35 — Palermo 4–1 Spezia (H)

Back in Sicily, Spezia were swept away by a Tzimas masterclass. Hassan’s cut-back was swept in by the Greek forward on 19 minutes, but Eduardo Solari briefly levelled with a header on 49’. The response was instant: from the restart, Jacopo Segre released Tzimas to make it 2–1 on 50’, and the striker then bullied his way through the defence on 71 minutes to complete his first Serie A hat-trick with a low finish into the corner. Deep into stoppage time Hassan cut inside and fired home a fourth on 90+4', rounding off a comprehensive 4–1 win and sending the Barbera into party mode.

Matchday 36 — Roma 1–1 Palermo (A)

Away to fourth-placed Roma, Palermo showed steel and character to take a point from the capital. Lorenzo Pellegrini put the hosts ahead on 32 minutes, finishing calmly after a clever pass from Tommaso Baldanzi. Palermo had a huge chance to equalise when Angeliño chopped down Hassan in the box on 40 minutes, only for Mile Svilar to save Tzimas’ penalty. Marco Turconi rattled the bar just before the break as the Rosanero pushed back. The reward came on 57 minutes: Turconi drove forward on a brilliant run and laid the ball off for an unlikely scorer, Niccolò Pierozzi, who smashed a low strike in from just outside the area. Roma pressed late, but Palermo held firm for a hard-fought 1–1 draw that keeps the European dream flickering.

Matchday 37 — Palermo 1–2 Torino (H)

Palermo’s European push took a dent as they fell to a frustrating home defeat against Torino despite dominating much of the game. The visitors struck first on 13 minutes when Zakaria Aboukhlal headed in a cross to make it 1–0, but Stefanos Tzimas levelled on 32’, firing home from a Jérémy Le Douaron delivery after sustained pressure. Huber’s side continued to control possession after the break, only to be caught out on 55 minutes when Torino won the ball and broke quickly, Aboukhlal arriving to slot home his second of the night on the counter. Palermo pushed hard for another equaliser but couldn’t find a way through, leaving the Barbera with a 2–1 defeat that felt like a big missed opportunity in the race for Europe.

🏆 Other News

Player of the Month: Christian Comotto’s form has not gone unnoticed — the versatile midfielder was named Serie A Player of the Month for April, a fitting reward for his goals, assists, and creative presence.

Champions Crowned: Juventus have wrapped up the league title with games to spare, confirming what many suspected during their relentless winter run.

Scouts in the Stands: The rumour mill keeps turning. Crystal Palace manager José Mourinho has been spotted at recent Palermo matches, reportedly keeping a close eye on Filippo Ranocchia. With a release clause in place, the summer could get interesting.

📊 League Table Snapshot

With one game left, the picture is brutally clear:

• 6th — Como, 59 points
• 7th — Palermo, 57 points
• 8th — Lazio, 57 points

Palermo sit in 7th, two points behind Como in 6th and level with Lazio, who trail only on goal difference. Given Inter’s recent win in the Coppa Italia, sixth place would mean Europa League football while seventh place would mean Europa Conference League football. But, given the stakes, can Huber’s side hold their nerve.

• Como travel to Bologna, currently 2nd and already secure in their position.
• Palermo head to Pisa, last in the table and already relegated.
• Lazio visit Fiorentina, sitting 9th and still with pride to play for.

It is doable, but far from simple. Palermo must win in Tuscany and then watch the scores roll in from Emilia-Romagna and Florence. One slip from Como or Lazio could open the door.

👉 Next Up: The Battle for Europe: One last game. Pisa away. If results fall their way, Palermo could complete one of the most remarkable first seasons back in Serie A in recent memory by securing European football. If not, this campaign will still be remembered as the year the Rosanero returned and announced that they intend to stay.

🌙 36: After Hours at the Academy

The floodlights at the Palermo City Football Academy had long since blinked out, but in one corner office the lights still burned. Five figures sat around a whiteboard that looked more like a battlefield — magnets scattered, arrows half-rubbed away, and one phrase circled three times in red: transizioni rapide.

It was past midnight. The coffee machine in the corner spluttered uselessly, serving more as a stand for Samir Halimi’s notepad than a source of caffeine. Jacques Huber leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his knees, eyes drifting between clips on the monitor and the mess of notes spread across the table.

“Marseille press high like this,” he said, gesturing at the screen. “But if we can pull them—”

“They’re not Marseille,” interrupted Roberto Secchi, the Sicilian coach, with a dry smile. “They’re Cagliari. You’ve been watching too much Champions League.”

That drew a low chuckle from Patrick Sullivan, the fitness coach, leaning in the doorway with a water bottle in hand. “To be fair,” he said, “if we keep working at this hour, we’ll need a sports science miracle just to get through the warm-up.”

Jacques smirked. “Then it’s a good thing we hired one.”

Tobi Okori laughed, tipping his chair back. “Miracle or not, half the lads are struggling. This past month has been tough.”

“Understatement of the year,” Patrick muttered.

The room filled with the tired laughter that only comes after months of pressure. It had been a long season, full of bruises and tight contests, but recent back-to-back wins had shifted the mood. The team had started to find rhythm again. Even the staff looked lighter, as though the worst of the storm had passed. 

On the screen, clips of Cagliari faded to black. Samir closed his notebook with a snap. “You realise this is what we did in Serie B?” he said. “Except now we’re older, slower, and still working till midnight.”

Roberto shrugged. “That’s progress.”

More laughter. Samir poured the last of the coffee into a paper cup and sat down.

“You know what’s funny?” Patrick said. “Every stat, every graph says we should’ve burned out by now. But the numbers don’t get what this place does to people.”

Jacques looked up from the table, a faint smile crossing his face. “The numbers never do.”

Among the notes and printouts lay a folder marked Summer Planning — Draft 1. A few new names were circled, potential reinforcements and academy prospects, but one current player was underlined in blue: Marco Turconi. The same kid who’d made headlines for all the wrong reasons a few weeks earlier.

Roberto tapped his name with a pen. “He’s a handful,” he said. “But maybe the kind we need.”

Patrick shrugged. “As long as he keeps working.”

Jacques leaned back. “He’s the future of this club,” he said quietly. “I won’t let him go to waste.”

Silence settled over the room. Beyond the glass, the countryside was still, it was just crickets and the faint glow of a farmhouse in the distance. The academy sat alone among low hills and open fields, a small island of floodlight poles and restless ambition.

Tobi finally stretched and stood. “Alright, geniuses. Same time tomorrow?”

Patrick grinned. “Sure. I’ll bring the defibrillator.”

Jacques gathered his notes. “And I’ll bring more coffee.”

They stepped out into the warm Sicilian night, gravel crunching underfoot. Behind them, the last office light clicked off. Only the moon kept watch over the pitches.

⭐ The New Scholars

After the breakthrough of Marco Turconi and the promise shown by Huber’s first cohort of scholars, this year’s intake is a more modest group. None look ready to trouble the first team yet, but a couple of names have caught the eye:

Gianluca Consonni (CM, 16, Favara) – A functional central midfielder with the attributes of a future winger. His dribbling and pace suggest a switch out wide as he develops in the U18s.

Alessandro Napolitano (RW, 16, Alcamo) – A tall but limited right-winger. Fairly well-rounded, but he’ll need time and patient coaching to grow into senior football.

📈 The Next Generation

In NXGN 2027, Palermo saw two of their loanees make the prestigious list: Christian Comotto placed 9th and Honest Ahanor 10th. Neither belongs to the club permanently yet, but their development this season has sparked real optimism within the hierarchy that at least one of those deals might be made permanent.

👉 Next Up: Eyes on the Finish Line. Momentum has returned, belief is growing, and Palermo edge closer to the end of their first top-flight season. As the final weeks of Serie A approach, the question shifts once again: can Huber’s side turn an overachieving campaign into something truly extraordinary,  a place in Europe?

🏟️ 35: The Turning Point?

⚡ Momentum Stalls

Pressure has a sound. It’s not just boos, it’s the dip in noise when a pass goes astray, the sharp inhale when a chance is missed, the muttered curses as fans shuffle toward the exits. Against Lecce, chasing the same European spots as Palermo, that sound was everywhere.

Matchday 27 — Palermo 0–1 Lecce (H)

A top-six six-pointer that felt like it belonged to someone else. Lecce struck first and early: Amine El Ouazzani darting in front of Troilo to stab home a cross on 5 minutes. From there, the first half descended into chaos. Turconi rolled his man and clipped a gorgeous effort onto the bar on 25’, before Lecce rattled the post three minutes later at the other end. It was open, frantic, and on another day Palermo might have forced the game their way.

Instead, the second half tightened into a grind. Lecce sat in, Palermo pushed and pushed, but the spark was missing. Hassan blazed over their best chance and, as the minutes drained away, so did the authority that had carried Huber’s side into 5th. When the whistle went, Lecce had leapfrogged them into that spot, two points clear with a game in hand. Huber didn’t climb the barriers this time. He applauded, nodded once, and disappeared down the tunnel, expression unreadable. 

“These are the games you have to win if you want Europe,” he told Sky Sport Italia afterwards. “Tonight, we simply didn’t do enough.”

🔥The Reaction

The city didn’t explode in anger, but the mood shifted. Outside the Barbera there were no firecrackers, no impromptu celebrations on Via D’Amelio, just small clusters of fans arguing about missed chances and what might be slipping away.

“Palermo have earned the right to dream,” wrote Il Giornale di Sicilia. “But with dreams come new responsibilities. Matches like this cannot become a habit.”

La Repubblica Palermo was sharper: “Lecce looked like a team that knows what it wants. Palermo looked like a team caught between surviving and believing.”

The club’s media team posted a single photo from the dressing room: players sitting, heads bowed, boots half-untied. No captions. No slogans. Just a reminder that in the race for Europe, one bad night can suddenly feel like a turning point, and not the kind anyone was hoping for.

📉Form Stutters

Worryingly, the Lecce defeat didn’t stand alone. It was followed by a run that briefly threatened to drag Palermo back toward the pack:

Matchday 28 — Inter 1–0 Palermo (A)
Palermo put in a disciplined display at San Siro but left empty-handed after a tight contest. The first half was cagey, Huber’s side keeping their shape and limiting clear Inter chances. The breakthrough came on 61 minutes when a Nicolò Barella strike took a deflection and fell kindly for Lautaro Martínez, who reacted quickest to tuck the ball past Quetglás. Palermo pushed late on and almost snatched a point when Jacopo Segre’s header from a free-kick was cleared off the line on 80’, but it finished 1–0. Another narrow defeat, and another reminder of Serie A’s fine margins.

Matchday 29 — Udinese 1–0 Palermo (A)
The attacking struggles continued in Udine as Palermo slumped to a third consecutive 1–0 loss. Keinan Davis headed home the only goal on 25 minutes after Palermo failed to clear a cross. From there, Huber’s side saw plenty of the ball but created little of substance, their final pass and composure in the box repeatedly letting them down. Udinese managed the game professionally, and Palermo’s wait for a goal, and for a spark to reignite their push up the table, went on.

Matchday 30 — Palermo 1–1 Como (H)
At last, the goal drought ended, but the win still wouldn’t come. Stefanos Tzimas gave Palermo the perfect start after just 3 minutes, nodding in a Christian Comotto corner, and the game flowed back and forth with chances for both sides. The turning point came on 59 minutes when Filippo Ranocchia dragged down Nico Paz in the area, gifting Como a penalty that Álvaro Morata calmly converted. Despite late pressure, Palermo couldn’t force a winner and had to settle for a single point from a match that had promised more.

Then, suddenly, something clicked.

Matchday 31 — Palermo 5–0 Lazio (H)
Palermo roared back into life with a thunderous demolition of Lazio at the Barbera. Another well-worked set piece brought the opener on 12 minutes, Stefanos Tzimas heading in to settle nerves. On 34 minutes, chaos at the back for Lazio saw Ivan Provedel rush out to clear ahead of Tzimas, only for the ball to drop to Christian Comotto, who coolly lobbed him from 25 yards. Just after the break, Palumbo slid Haissem Hassan in behind to make it three on 47 minutes, and the floodgates stayed open: Jérémy Le Douaron squared for Tzimas to grab his second on 58’, before Le Douaron himself capped the rout with a composed finish on 70’. A 5–0 statement that Palermo were not done yet.

Matchday 32 — Fiorentina 1–3 Palermo (A)
Palermo followed it up with a superb away performance in Florence. Hassan slipped a brilliant ball through for Comotto to slot home on 10 minutes, then Le Douaron doubled the lead with a crisp strike from the edge of the area on 27’. Fiorentina hit back quickly as Lucas Beltrán turned in a low cross on 31’, and thought they’d equalised on 63 minutes when Moise Kean headed in, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. With the game finely poised, Palermo killed it late on: Le Douaron’s cross took a deflection and dropped perfectly for Comotto to tap in his second on 85’, sealing an impressive 3–1 victory.

📈The Table

8th — Palermo (51 points)

Back-to-back wins have steadied the ship, but only two victories in the last six have probably put continental qualification just out of reach. It isn’t impossible, but with teams around Palermo holding games in hand, Huber’s side will need something special in the final six matches to turn the dream into reality.

👉 Next Up: After Hours at the Academy. As Palermo’s form settles and the dust of the mini-crisis begins to clear, the real work continues long after the lights go out. In the quiet offices of the City Football Academy, Huber and his staff are already sketching the next steps — for the run-in, and for whatever this project is becoming.

🗞️ 34: The Pressure Grows

🗣️A Club Under Scrutiny

When Palermo were promoted last spring, the city fell in love with Jacques Huber’s energy. He was the young foreign manager who had revived the pink shirt and made the Barbera dream again.

Now, less than a year later, the mood is not darker so much as sharper. Palermo are flying higher than anyone expected, and with that comes a different kind of tension. Every result shifts European dreams, every selection is dissected intently, and every quote is replayed across national media.

Huber still prowls the touchline, still first to training and last to leave, but the quiet around him has gone. Success has turned Palermo from a curiosity into one of Serie A’s main stories, and stories attract scrutiny.

🎬The End of “Palermo’s Power Couple”

Just months ago, Sicilia Moda described designer Claudia Costa as “Palermo’s unofficial first lady,” a near-constant presence at matches and club events. Now, her usual seat in the directors’ box has been empty for weeks.

According to multiple outlets, Costa and Huber have quietly separated. One close friend of Costa told La Repubblica Palermo: “They had been together constantly since the summer, but things changed. He’s living at the training ground again. Football is the only thing he sees.”

Neighbours at the Trinacria Suite have reportedly seen movers collecting some of Costa’s belongings.

“It’s quieter now,” one said. “You used to hear two voices. Now it’s just him and sometimes the TV showing match replays.”

For the gossip pages, it’s the end of Palermo’s glamour chapter. For Huber, it looks more like a return to monastic focus just as the stakes are rising.

⚽ Cracks and Questions

On the pitch, results have been outstanding, but Huber’s obsession with standards has not softened. Injuries and a packed schedule have stretched the squad, and even in a season of overachievement, there have been reminders of how fine the margins are.

The most public example came with academy star Marco Turconi. The teenager found himself out of the squad for the Atalanta match after arriving late to training, with reports that he’d been seen out in the Politeama–Libertà district the previous night. Huber was said to be “furious.” Turconi apologised privately and returned to the bench a week later, eventually grabbing an assist against Genoa, but the incident sparked debate.

“He’s a good kid,” said one anonymous teammate, “but he’s young, and this city can eat you alive if you’re not careful.” Inside the camp, the staff insist the group remains united, if a little stretched.

“We’re working harder than ever,” said assistant coach Tobi Okori. “From outside people see pressure. Inside, it’s focus.”

The question isn’t whether Palermo are good enough for Serie A anymore. It’s whether a young squad and a demanding coach can maintain this level while the spotlight gets brighter.

🔊Media Storm

National talk shows have begun circling for different reasons now. Sky Calcio Notte recently ran a segment titled “Huber and the New European Dream,” while Corriere della Sera wondered whether his fiery touchline image hides a manager “on the brink of something bigger, or in the process of burning himself out trying.”

A columnist in La Stampa wrote: “Huber built Palermo on passion, and that same passion now drives them toward Europe. But passion is volatile and Serie A has a habit of testing how long dreamers can keep their balance.”

For every sceptic, however, there is a loyalist ready with an answer. “He made us believe again,” said one fan outside the Barbera. “If we miss Europe, we miss it fighting. That’s Huber’s Palermo.”

🏟️Where It Stands

With 26 games played, Palermo sit 5th, astonishingly close to the European places in their first year back in the top flight. Relegation talk has long since faded; now the tension comes from wondering whether they can really hold this position through March and April.

The football is still aggressive and fast on the break. The difference is that every point now feels like it counts double, whether that be for the table, for future transfers, for whether this project can keep its brightest pieces.

Whether the growing noise hardens or distracts Huber will shape not just this season’s finish, but his place in Palermo’s longer story.

👉 Next Up: The Turning Point. As the run-in approaches and Europe looms on the horizon, can Huber keep his team clear-headed amid the gossip, the rumours, and the rising expectations, or will the weight of success prove as heavy as the fear of relegation once was?

🏟️ 33: Into the Fire — Raising the Bar

⚽ Holding the Line

What started as a survival mission is beginning to feel like something else entirely. Palermo were meant to be clinging on in Serie A; instead, they’ve kicked the door open.  The pressure is still there, but it’s changed shape. It’s no longer “can we stay up?” so much as “how far can we go?”

Jacques Huber spends most days and too many nights at the Palermo City Football Academy, but the mood is different from the anxious autumn grind. The brows are still furrowed, the voice still rasps after training, yet there’s a quiet satisfaction underneath it all.

“In Serie A,” he said last week, “you can play well and still lose. But we’re starting to learn how to win our difficult games too. That is the difference.”

Right now, the difference is showing.

📊 Recent Results

A remarkable stretch of form has lifted Palermo from survival talk into the European conversation:

Matchday 20 — Pescara 0–4 Palermo (A)
Despite missing several key players through injury and fatigue, Palermo produced a ruthless display away to Pescara. Yeremay won a penalty early on and converted it himself on 6 minutes to settle any nerves, before Jacopo Segre beat his man and squared for Haissem Hassan to tap in a second on 22’. Hassan then intercepted a loose pass on 55 minutes and slid in Palermo-born forward Giacomo Corona, who calmly made it 3–0, and the winger wasn’t done there, escaping down the flank on 77’, he cut the ball back for Jérémy Le Douaron to add a fourth. A dominant 4–0 win and a statement of depth and attacking quality from Huber’s side.

Matchday 21 — Palermo 5–3 Juventus (H)
In a wild night at the Renzo Barbera, Palermo stunned league leaders Juventus in a chaotic, historic win. Pierozzi nipped in ahead of Kenan Yildiz on 12 minutes and fed Haissem Hassan down the flank, his low cut-back tapped in at the back post by Yeremay, before Loïs Openda levelled on 21’. Nikolaou restored the lead with a thumping header from a Palumbo corner on 29’, though the joy was tempered by an injury to Tzimas soon after.  

Jonathan David made it 2–2 early in the second half with a sumptuous strike from range, but then came the moment nobody will forget: Khéphren Thuram, receiving a throw near halfway, knocked a blind back-pass toward his own goal, not realising keeper Di Gregorio had drifted to one side — the ball rolled straight into the empty net for a remarkable own goal. Palermo then struck again from a set piece on 84 minutes, Troilo powering in a header from a free-kick to make it 4–2, only for Nicolás González to pull one back on 87’. As Juve threw everything forward for an equaliser, Hassan broke away in stoppage time to slot home on 90’, sealing a 5–3 victory with just 38% possession and delivering Huber’s most famous Serie A win to date.

Matchday 22 — Parma 1–2 Palermo (A)
Palermo earned an excellent away win in Parma, edging a tight game with moments of quality in the final third. Christian Comotto opened the scoring on 23 minutes with a deflected strike from the edge of the box, only for Adrián Bernabé to curl in a fine equaliser on 31’. Huber’s side hit back almost immediately: a clever free-kick routine on 34 minutes ended with Yeremay arriving to slot home what proved to be the winner. Palermo defended resolutely thereafter to see out a big 2–1 victory on the road.

Matchday 23 — Palermo 1–0 Milan (H)
Palermo claimed another massive scalp at the Renzo Barbera, edging Milan thanks to a first-half strike from Stefanos Tzimas. The forward powered home on 36 minutes after a sharp move in transition, giving Huber’s side a lead they refused to surrender. Milan did have the ball in the net twice, but both efforts were ruled out for offside, and beyond those moments they struggled to seriously trouble new keeper Ferrán Quetglás. A disciplined, mature display saw Palermo home for a statement 1–0 win over one of Serie A’s giants.

Matchday 24 — Bologna 0–1 Palermo (A)
Palermo ground out another big away win, edging Bologna thanks to a decisive first-half strike from Haissem Hassan. Just before the break on 44 minutes, Hassan drove in from the flank and drilled a low shot across the goalkeeper to make it 1–0. Huber’s side then dug in after the interval, defending compactly and managing the game well to protect their lead, closing out a hard-earned 1–0 victory on the road.

Coppa Italia Quarter Final — Inter 2–0 Palermo (A)
Palermo’s Coppa Italia run ended at San Siro as Inter’s quality eventually told in a tight quarter-final. The hosts dominated possession from the start, but it was Huber’s side who carved the slightly better early chances. However, as the half progressed and Inter’s control grew, Quetglas was forced to make several strong saves to keep it goalless at the break. The Palermo resistance was then finally broken on 57 minutes when Geny slotted home a composed finish to put Inter ahead, and Palermo’s task got even harder late on as Ranocchia was sent off for a second yellow after fouling Francesco Pio Esposito on 84’. Esposito then combined with Marcus Thuram for a neat one-two before finishing on 89 minutes to seal a 2–0 win, ending Palermo’s cup hopes for the season.

Matchday 25 — Atalanta 1–0 Palermo (A)
Palermo endured a grim afternoon in Bergamo, undone by an early red card and a penalty. Niccolò Pierozzi was sent off on 22 minutes for a reckless two-footed lunge on Lorenzo Venturini, leaving Huber’s side to play over an hour with ten men. Atalanta quickly capitalised, winning a spot-kick on 29 minutes after Jacopo Segre was penalised for a foul in the box, and Krstović calmly converted. Reduced in numbers, Palermo struggled to mount any real response, and Atalanta saw out a routine 1–0 win.

Matchday 26 — Palermo 3–0 Genoa (H)
Palermo produced a dominant home display to brush aside Genoa at the Renzo Barbera. The opener came on 30 minutes when a recycled corner fell to Haissem Hassan, who curled a superb effort into the top corner. Christian Comotto doubled the lead on 64’, thundering in a cut-back, and the night was capped in stoppage time as Marco Turconi slipped a clever reverse pass into Jacopo Segre, who smashed his shot in off the underside of the bar on 90+4. A commanding 3–0 win and another statement performance from Huber’s side.

📊League Table Snapshot

After 26 games and an incredible run of form, Palermo sit 5th in Serie A. For a newly promoted side, it borders on surreal. With 44 points, they should already be comfortably clear of the relegation scrap; the conversation has shifted. Survival looks secure. Now the question being whispered around the Renzo Barbera is different:

Can Palermo really qualify for Europe?

🏋️Updates from Camp

• The long-awaited upgrades to both the first-team and youth training facilities have finally been completed, giving Huber and his staff the tools to push standards even higher.
• A recent bout of flu has swept through the camp, leaving seven or eight players unavailable at various points across the past month. Rotation has become less a choice and more a necessity.
• Rumours swirl around Filippo Ranocchia. His performances in a deeper role have not gone unnoticed, and with a €10.75m release clause in his contract, clubs are circling. Crystal Palace are said to be among those monitoring him closely. Palermo may soon have to decide whether he is the cornerstone of the project, or the sale that funds the next step.

👉 Next Up: The Pressure Grows. With safety all but secured and Europe suddenly in sight, the noise around Palermo is only getting louder. Expectations rise, agents call, rumours spread. From the media glare to the whispers in the streets and cafés of Sicily, the challenge for Huber now is not just to keep winning — it’s to keep the football clear in the middle of the storm.

🏟️ 32: Between Training and the Spotlight

⚽ Long Days, Hard Work

Despite Palermo’s rollercoaster start to Serie A, Jacques Huber’s focus has remained unrelenting. Sources inside the Palermo City Football Academy describe “long, grinding sessions” as Huber drills his squad in defensive shape, transitions, and set-piece routines. 

“He’s there before the players arrive and still scribbling on his notepad after they leave,” one staff member told Il Giornale di Sicilia.

If the gossip pages were full of his movements near the end of last season, this year has been different: less late-night sightings, fewer glamour dinners. Huber is visible, but mostly in tracksuit and trainers rather than tuxedos.

🎶 Curva Nord Connection

After an impressive 5–0 win at the Barbera against Napoli, Huber was photographed approaching the Curva Nord, shaking hands and exchanging words with some of the fans. The images of him smiling and celebrating with the ultras went viral, hailed by local fans as proof that he “gets” Palermo.

But national media outlets were quick to identify the men in the photos. Among them was Salvatore “Totuccio” Ferrante, previously investigated in connection with ticket scalping and money laundering, and Giorgio Marino, once questioned by police over alleged links to protection rackets around the stadium. Neither man has been convicted of serious crimes, but their reputations are notorious. The sight of Palermo’s young coach alongside them has sparked debate across Italy.

“Passion is one thing,” wrote Corriere della Sera. “Optics are another. Huber is no longer just a manager. He is a symbol, and symbols are judged by the company they keep.”

Huber’s response was typically straightforward: “The curva is the beating heart of Palermo. When we celebrate together, I don’t check court records before I shake someone’s hand. These people live for the club. Football belongs to them as much as anyone.”

The club issued a short statement of support, praising the bond between manager and supporters.

✈️ A Roman Detour

The balance between work and society flickered again in Rome. After a hard-fought draw with Lazio on the 30th of December, the squad and staff boarded the return flight to Sicily. Huber did not.

He was later photographed in Trastevere at a private early New Years gathering, with a mix of artists, business figures, and football personalities. While his staff returned to Palermo to prepare for the next match, Huber lingered in the capital, flying back a couple of days later.

Networking? Social indulgence? The lines, as ever with Huber, are blurred. Palermo fans will hope his extra-curricular visibility doesn’t distract from the unforgiving reality of Serie A survival.

👉 Next Up: Into the Fire. The season grinds on, and Palermo’s Serie A fight becomes a test of endurance. Can Huber’s team hold their nerve through injuries, setbacks, and the relentless rhythm of Italy’s top flight?

📊 31: Mid-Season Review — Palermo at the Halfway Mark

The halfway mark of Palermo’s first season back in Serie A has arrived, and the story so far is one of grit, adaptation, and a fair few bruises. The pink shirts sit comfortably clear of the relegation places, but everyone knows how quickly that can change. One bad run and the romantic return to the top flight can turn into a scrap for survival.

⚽ Tactical Overview

Huber has kept faith with his 4-3-3, but after a bumpy start the system has been steadily reshaped for life in Serie A:

• Compact Wingers – Rather than hugging the touchline high up the pitch, the wide players now tuck in and work harder without the ball, helping protect central areas.
• Faster Transitions – Palermo look to break at speed into space whenever they win possession, instead of trying to dominate the ball as they did in Serie B.
• Selective Pressing – The team sits in a mid-block, pressing off clear triggers in midfield and wide zones. It saves energy and keeps the structure intact in games where they expect to concede possession.

“It’s not always pretty,” Huber admitted after a grinding 1–0 win over Lecce, “but in Serie A you must know your limits. If we chase everything, we burn out. If we sit too deep, we suffocate. The balance is crucial for both survival and morale.”

📝 Regular Starting XI

• GK – Sebastiano Desplanches (6.74) – A good shot-stopper, but still inconsistent at this level. There’s already talk of bringing in competition in January.
• RB – Niccolò Pierozzi (6.69) – A stalwart of promotion who has found some of Serie A’s elite wingers a step up, but remains trusted for his work rate and attitude.
• CB – Mariano Troilo (6.91) – Strong in both boxes and increasingly vocal. After a shaky start he has grown into the leader of the back line.
• CB – Dimitris Nikolaou (6.86) – Replaced Pietro Ceccaroni in the XI and has been quietly excellent, anchoring the defence during the recent good run.
• LB – Honest Anahor (6.93) – Brings power and attacking thrust while learning a demanding inverting role. Still raw, but enjoying a breakout campaign.
• DM – Filippo Ranocchia (6.95) – Stepping into Claudio Gomes’ role, Ranocchia has been an outstanding pivot, breaking up play and sparking quick counters.
• CM – Christian Comotto (6.98) – Despite his age, already undroppable. Endless running, press resistance, and quality in the final third, though the heavy schedule is starting to show.
• CM – Antonio Palumbo (6.70) – Creative and capable of big moments, but form has fluctuated. Jacopo Segre and Marco Turconi have both pushed him for minutes.
• RW – Haissem Hassan (7.05) – One of Palermo’s main attacking weapons, with 5 goals and 4 assists so far. Direct, fearless, and increasingly decisive.
• LW – Yeremay (6.64) – Flashes of brilliance but still searching for consistency at this level.
• ST – Stefanos Tzimas (7.04) – After a slow start, the talisman has adjusted well. Still the side’s top scorer, though heavily dependent on quality service.

🔁 Bench & Rotation Notes

Serie A has exposed the limits of Palermo’s depth, forcing Huber to rotate and experiment more than in Serie B:

• Pietro Ceccaroni (6.56) – Lost his starting spot early and hasn’t yet convinced Huber he should win it back.
• Jacopo Segre (6.73) – High energy and relentless pressing from the bench, but can be loose in possession.
• Jérémy Le Douaron (6.84) – Frequently Huber’s go-to game-changer; offers goals, pressing and clever movement.
• Emmanuel Gyasi (6.71) – Key last season, but at 33 is struggling to maintain impact across 90 minutes.
• Marco Turconi (7.00) – The academy jewel. Three goals and three assists already in Serie A from limited starts. Coming from Lo Zen, he’s a Curva Nord favourite. There are questions about his entourage off the pitch, but on it he’s electric.
• Giacomo Corona (6.77) – Yet to see significant minutes, but his cameos suggest there’s promise if opportunities arrive.

🔄 Transfer Moves

The January window looms, and Palermo know they’ll need smart moves rather than a revolution:

Incoming: With Desplanches inconsistent, Palermo have secured a loan for Mallorca-born goalkeeper Ferrán Quetglás from Real Madrid. The deal includes a €1.3m loan fee and a €12m option to buy — if he impresses, he could become a long-term No.1.

Outgoing: Frustrated by limited minutes, Alexis Blin has left for Austin FC in a €375k deal. 

Huber has also pushed hard for better youth recruitment, and the board have agreed to expand the scouting network. A key step if Palermo are to build sustainably.

🌱 Academy News

Early reports on this year’s intake of first-year scholars are not encouraging. Coaches describe the group as “workmanlike” rather than star-studded, with no obvious Turconi-style standout. There is hope that one or two may grow into useful squad options, but for now the pipeline looks thinner than last year.

🎙️ Voices from the Stands

At the halfway point, the city remains cautiously optimistic. They are proud of what’s been done, but also aware of how fragile it is.

Gianni, 54, season ticket holder: “Serie A is merciless. Some weeks you feel proud, some weeks you wonder if we belong. But the heart is there. That’s what matters.”

Lauro, 19, Curva Nord: “Seeing one of our own, from Palermo, scoring in pink gives us goosebumps. This is why we fight to stay up. Serie A without Palermo is empty.”

Marco, 41, bar owner near the Barbera: “We need reinforcements. The boys fight, but fight only takes you so far. Give Huber two or three good signings in January and we won’t just survive, we’ll grow.”

📈 Mid-Season Verdict

• League Position: Safely mid-table, but bunched together with a pack of clubs. One bad spell could still drag them into trouble; one good run could push them toward the top half.
• Positives: Adapted playing style without abandoning the core philosophy; youth breakthroughs; strong morale despite the step up.
• Concerns: Depth in key positions, mounting fatigue, and the physical grind of Serie A.
• Verdict: Palermo are more than holding their own. Survival looks likely if focus remains high, but no one at the Barbera is taking it for granted.

👉 Next Up: Between Training and the Spotlight. Away from the pitch, Jacques Huber adjusts to Serie A life. A new apartment, new routines, and the uncomfortable glare of a league that never stops watching.

⚽ 30: The Grind of Serie A — Finding Form

🏟️ Match Results

Matchday 13 — Lecce 0–1 Palermo (A)
Handed a start in Lecce, Marco Turconi repaid Huber’s faith with a composed finish on 10 minutes, stroking home to give Palermo an early lead. The game quickly settled into a cagey affair with few clear chances for either side, but Palermo’s structure and work rate off the ball kept Lecce at arm’s length. In the end, Turconi’s strike proved enough, sealing a hard-fought 1–0 win and another precious three points in the battle for survival.

Matchday 14 — Palermo 3–1 Udinese (H)
Palermo claimed a big home win over Udinese, driven by a Haissem Hassan hat-trick. The winger opened the scoring on 27 minutes, firing in from a tight angle after a well-worked corner routine, only for Jordan Zemura to level five minutes later with a fine strike. Just before the break, Marco Turconi slipped Hassan in on 44’, and he coolly restored the lead. Zemura’s second yellow on 48 minutes reduced Udinese to ten men, and Palermo took full advantage late on as Hassan completed his treble on 83’, slotting home to seal a deserved 3–1 victory.

Matchday 15 — Palermo 2–0 Fiorentina (H)
Palermo earned an impressive home win over Fiorentina after a cagey first half at the Renzo Barbera. The breakthrough came on 50 minutes when Yeremay cut inside from the flank and saw his strike take a deflection that wrong-footed David de Gea. With the visitors chasing, Palermo struck again on 64’: a neat give-and-go between Tzimas and Antonio Palumbo ended with the midfielder sliding a composed finish into the corner for 2–0. Huber’s side saw the game out calmly, banking another crucial three points in their bid to stay up.

Matchday 16 — Lazio 1–1 Palermo (A)
Palermo battled to a draw in Rome in a game that swung dramatically inside the first ten minutes. Lazio struck early, finishing off a slick passing move through Gustav Isaksen on 4 minutes, but just three minutes later Nicolò Rovella threw an elbow in a clash with Stefanos Tzimas and was shown a straight red. Huber’s side took advantage on 25 minutes when Comotto was fouled in the box and Tzimas emphatically buried the resulting penalty. Palermo went on to create a host of chances against ten men but couldn’t find a winner, leaving the Olimpico with a 1–1 draw that felt like an opportunity missed.

Matchday 17 — Palermo 5–0 Napoli (H)
Continuing their good run of form, Palermo produced another stunning display by dismantling Napoli in Michel’s first game in charge of the visitors. Christian Comotto twice sliced them open in the first half, threading through balls for Stefanos Tzimas to finish clinically on 22’ and 25’. Napoli made a triple substitution at half-time but were punished almost immediately after the restart, Mariano Troilo rising highest to head in his first Palermo goal from a Yeremay corner on 47’. On 72 minutes, a Turconi strike deflected in off team-mate Le Douaron for 4–0, before Turconi finally got his own goal in stoppage time, running onto a lovely Ranocchia pass to make it 5–0. A historic win at the Renzo Barbera and a statement that Palermo are a new growing force in the South.

Matchday 18 — Cagliari 1–1 Palermo (A)
Palermo earned a late point in a tight encounter in Sardinia. After a largely even game with few clear openings, Cagliari finally broke through on 78 minutes when Mattia Prati got down the flank and crossed for Sebastiano Esposito to tap in at the back post. Huber’s side refused to fold, though, and their pressure told in the 89th minute as Jérémy Le Douaron whipped in a cross that Christian Comotto met to level the match. It finished 1–1, a hard-fought draw that felt like a small win on the road.

Matchday 19 — Palermo 2–3 Parma (H)
Palermo were edged out in a wild, see-saw game at the Renzo Barbera, undone by a Steve Mounié hat-trick. The Parma striker opened the scoring with a looping header, but Mariano Troilo quickly levelled on 25 minutes, nodding in a Haissem Hassan free-kick. Just two minutes later, Jacopo Segre’s cross was turned into his own net by defender Botond Balogh to make it 2–1 to Palermo. After the break, though, Mounié took over: he swept home a tidy finish on 53 minutes to equalise, then completed his treble with another powerful header on 67’. Despite late pressure, Palermo couldn’t find a response and slipped to a 3–2 defeat.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• The Zen Factor: Marco Turconi is no longer just a prospect; he’s regularly getting minutes, developing well, and often becoming Palermo’s attacking heartbeat when on the pitch. His ‘Z’ celebration continues to spark chatter in the press.

• Ups and Downs: Palermo are managing to compete with Italy’s elite, but the most recent home loss to Parma is a reminder of their struggles for consistency.

• Good Form: Over the last 5 games, key individuals in the spine of the team like Mariano Troilo (7.24), Filippo Ranocchia (7.21), Yeremay (7.10), and Stefanos Tzimas (7.21) have begun looking at home at this level.

📊 League Table Snapshot

After 19 games and a good stint of form, Palermo sit at the heady heights of 8th. Only 6 points separates them from 15th but the have a decent foothold in the division at the halfway mark. 

🏥 Updates from Camp

• Job offer: Both Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig approached Jacques Huber about potentially going for an interview to replace the outgoing Thomas Frank and Ole Werner. Huber declined stating he is loving his time at Palermo in Serie a. Later that month Huber signed a new 4 year contract on €16,000 a week. 

• Transfers: In hopes of maintaining the quest for survival the board have made an extra €1.2m available for transfers in January, bringing the total amount to 4.4m. Huber is already hinting at reinforcements, notably a keeper for competition with Sebastiano Desplanches (6.74), who has had a mixed season so far.

• Contract Renewals: Given his recent good performances and replacement of Pietro Ceccaroni in the starting lineup, Dimitris Nikolaou has signed a new 3 year deal, with improved wages and a promise of more starts.

👉 Next Up: Halfway House. A mid-season review: Palermo take stock of their first Serie A campaign so far. Who has impressed, who has struggled, and where will Huber look in the January market?

📰 29: Sicilia Today

From Lo Zen to the Stadio: Football’s Promise and Palermo’s Problems

Palermo has a new sensation. Marco Turconi, just 16 years old, has burst onto the Serie A stage with creativity, goals, and the kind of fearless swagger that makes supporters fall in love instantly. His rise is remarkable, not just for what he does on the pitch, but for what it says about the city he comes from.

Every time he scores, Turconi forms a “Z” with his hands, a proud tribute to Lo Zen, one of Palermo’s toughest neighbourhoods. For some, it’s a moving gesture and proof that talent can come from the city’s most deprived corners. For others, it’s a reminder of a district long synonymous with poverty, crumbling housing blocks, and the grip of organised crime.

For decades, players from Lo Zen rarely had a pathway out. Palermo’s academy struggled, opportunities dried up, and too often young Sicilian men with talent drifted into the shadows. That has hopefully started to change with investment and the arrival of the City Football Group. With the construction of a local football pitch in 2020, as well as further investment in facilities and youth development, suddenly doors appear to be opening, and Marco Turconi may now be the first to walk through them.

📸 But progress never comes without tension. An Italian rap video filmed in Lo Zen went viral this week, showing young men dancing, and often flashing weapons. In a few scenes, Turconi appears, standing out in the crowd in his all-pink tracksuit. He’s not in any shots with people holding guns, but the images stirred unease. Was this a rising star caught too close to the old traps of his neighbourhood? 

That unease was sharpened by recent memory. In 2023, Palermo mourned the death of Rosolino “Lino” Celesia, a 22-year-old former professional footballer who was shot dead in a nightclub in the city. His assailant, just 17, confessed soon after. Celesia had once been a youth player with Trapani and Torino, before stints with Marsala, Troina and Parmonval. His career faded, but his life ended far too soon.

At the time a vigil was held in his honour in Palermo, while Torino issued a heartfelt statement:  “President Urbano Cairo and the entire Torino Football Club deeply share the pain of the Celesia family for the passing of Rosolino Celesia, a former youth player in the Granata youth sector.”

For some, the sight of Turconi in that video is a warning: Palermo cannot afford another tragedy of wasted potential. Maria Cuffaro, a social worker in Lo Zen, told Sicilia Today: “Lo Zen is a cycle. Poverty, unemployment, crime. These forces repeat themselves generation after generation. Football can break that cycle, but it takes more than talent; it takes structure, investment, and the courage to stay away from old paths. For the first time, Palermo is offering some that structure.”

At the Stadio Renzo Barbera, supporters made their feelings clear. When Turconi scored last weekend, chants of “Zen, Zen, Zen” rang around the Curva Nord. He is already their symbol: the boy who carries both the struggle and the pride of Palermo onto the pitch.

Palermo’s future under the City Football Group may be brighter than its past, and Turconi could be the first of many to rise from the city’s forgotten districts. But his story remains fragile. The question is no longer whether Lo Zen can produce a Serie A footballer. It’s whether Palermo can help him, and others who follow, become something more than just another story of what might have been.

👉 Next Up: The Grind of Serie A. After the headlines and the noise, it’s back to the pitch. Five tough fixtures await as Palermo fight for every point in their battle to stay afloat in Serie A. Can Huber’s side hold their nerve against Italy’s giants and rivals alike?

⚽ 28: Serie A Continues — Tests of Reality

🏟️ Results Round-Up

Matchday 7 — Palermo 3–1 Pisa (H)
In a crucial early-season relegation battle, Palermo came out on top against fellow strugglers Pisa at the Renzo Barbera. The visitors gave an early scare by rattling the crossbar from a free-kick on 12 minutes, but Haissem Hassan settled nerves six minutes later, smashing home after a set piece was only half-cleared. Pisa hit back on 31’, Alexander Lind firing in a loose ball in the box, yet Palermo responded quickly as Yeremay guided a composed finish into the corner on 36’ to restore the lead. Jérémy Le Douaron added breathing space on 62 minutes with a tidy strike to make it 3–1, and Huber’s side saw the game out calmly to claim a vital three points in the fight for survival.

Matchday 8 — Spezia 1–1 Palermo (A)
In another tense relegation six-pointer, Palermo ground out a late point away to Spezia. The first half was cagey and uneventful, with neither side creating anything clear, and the hosts eventually struck on 59 minutes when Tio Cipot arrived at the back post to turn in a low cross. Palermo huffed and puffed without much joy until the 89th minute, when substitute wonderkid Marco Turconi produced a moment of magic, dancing past his man and drilling a ball across the six-yard box for Tzimas to tap home. A precious 1–1 draw and another reminder of Turconi’s growing importance.

Matchday 9 — Palermo 1–3 Roma (H)
Against last season’s champions, Palermo matched Roma for long stretches but were ultimately undone by a touch of Balzanzi brilliance and their own wastefulness. Tommaso Baldanzi broke the deadlock on 53 minutes with a stunning 25-yard strike, and although Jérémy Le Douaron hit the post on 63’ and Tzimas crashed a strike off the bar on 71’, the equaliser wouldn’t come. Baldanzi punished them again, finishing from a Devyne Rensch cross to make it 2–0, before Lorenzo Pellegrini added a third on 86’. Antonio Palumbo pulled one back in stoppage time with a superb volley on 90+4, but it was little more than consolation on a night where poor finishing cost Palermo dearly.

Matchday 10 — Torino 2–0 Palermo (A)
Palermo slumped to another disappointing defeat on the road, undone by a Duván Zapata brace in Turin. The Colombian striker nodded in the opener on 16 minutes, then was slipped through on 36’ to finish calmly one-on-one, leaving Desplanches exposed for a second time. Huber’s side never really recovered, struggling to create clear chances and looking increasingly fragile at the back. A worrying sign, with the young goalkeeper’s form starting to feel like a growing concern.

Matchday 11 — Como 0–2 Palermo (A)
Palermo picked up a vital away win at Como, built on sharp attacking in transition. Stefanos Tzimas opened the scoring on 14 minutes, finishing clinically on the break, and Yeremay thought he’d doubled the lead soon after only for his strike to be ruled out for offside. The second did eventually arrive later on, Antonio Palumbo smashing in a rebound (67’) after Le Douaron’s effort was parried. Palermo managed the game well from there, securing an important 2–0 victory on the road in their battle to stay up.

Coppa Italia — Roma 0–4 Palermo (A)
Palermo claimed a historic scalp in Rome, dismantling the reigning Serie A champions with a ruthless counter-attacking display. Marco Turconi set the tone early, winning the ball high and sparking a break that ended with Christian Comotto sliding home for 1–0 on 8 minutes. A long ball over the top from Niccolo Pierozzi sent Tzimas through to make it 2–0 on 29’, and the striker needed just a minute more to add his second, finishing another swift transition for 3–0 on 30’. The night got even sweeter on 60 minutes when Palermo-born forward Giacomo Corona tapped in his first ever goal for the club after a recycled corner was worked wide and crossed in by Le Douaron. With limited possession but devastating efficiency on the break, Huber’s side ran out 4–0 winners. Their first major giant-killing since promotion and a statement that Palermo can hurt anyone on their day.

Matchday 12 — Palermo 1–2 Inter (H)
Palermo pushed Inter close at the Renzo Barbera but fell just short against the league’s most underperforming side. Jack Grealish broke the deadlock on 38 minutes, arriving to finish a Marcus Thuram cross, before turning provider after the break as he teed up Lautaro Martínez to make it 2–0 on 59’. Huber’s changes sparked life into the game, and substitute Marco Turconi smashed in a Le Douaron cross on 79 minutes for his first Serie A goal, his “Z” celebration sending the Curva Nord wild at the prospect of a late comeback. Ranocchia then had a superb free-kick tipped away in the 90+1st minute, but the equaliser never came and Inter escaped with a hard-fought 2–1 win.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Resilient Spirit: Palermo have bounced back quickly after setbacks, proof the squad has absorbed some of Huber’s mentality.
• The Youth Factor: Marco Turconi now has 2 goals and 1 assist in just a handful of starts, and his confidence is growing by the week.
• Consistency Needed: Defensive collapses particularly against the big sides show Palermo still need to tighten up at moments.

📊 League Table Snapshot

After 12 games, Palermo sit 17th, on 12 points. A couple of important wins have lifted them above the drop zone, but the battle for survival remains tight. Pisa and Pescara look dead and buried already but Spezia are only 1 point below with a game in hand.

🏥 Updates from Camp

• Finding Form: After a poor start to the campaign, Stefanos Tzimas (6.76) has begun to find some form with 3 goals and 1 assist in his last 3 matches.
• Defensive Concerns: Both Pietro Ceccaroni (6.49) and Sebastiano Desplanches (6.53) have started the season poorly. Ceccaroni has recently lost his place to Dimitris Nikolaou (6.72) and the club are looking into goalkeeping options ahead of the January transfer window.
• Transfer Listed: Following concerns over playing time, Alexis Blin has handed in a transfer request that has been accepted by the club. One to watch in January.

👉 Next Up: From Zen to the Spotlight. The rise of Palermo’s young striker is a story that goes beyond football. His background, his celebration, and his sudden fame are pulling him into the headlines, for better or worse.

📰 27: Sicilia Society 

Huber Moves Up: From Bunker to Belle Époque Luxury

Palermo’s golden boy on the touchline is now living like one off it. After months of makeshift living in a shared “football bunker” with his staff, Jacques Huber has traded late-night football arguments for marble staircases, modern art, and panoramic views of the sea.

The 32-year-old Palermo manager has taken up residence in the Trinacria Suite, one of the most coveted apartments inside the former Trinacria Hotel and once the most glamorous address of Palermo’s belle époque. Renovated and divided into exclusive apartments, the building still carries its aura of high society.

🏡 The Apartment

The suite is accessed through its own private courtyard and private lift, leading directly into a chic, art-filled living room. There are three ensuite bedrooms, but the true jewel is the terrace: a sprawling space that runs the length of the apartment, with views over Palermo’s marina and the historic “widows’ walkway.” Locals say it’s the kind of view where “you drink wine in the afternoon and forget the world.”

It’s a far cry from Via Agrigento, where Huber shared cramped living space with assistant Tobi Okori and coach Samir Halimi. The old flat was all whiteboards, laptops, and football devotion. The new one? A wine cellar, modern furnishings, and a shaded gazebo for entertaining.

🍷 Whispers & Speculation

Already, Palermo’s society pages are speculating: will the terrace of the Trinacria Suite become a new gathering spot for the city’s elite? Rumours swirl of dinner parties with local designers and late-night drinks with players and staff. Some even suggest that Claudia Costa, the fashion designer recently linked to Huber, had a hand in the apartment’s interior touches.

One neighbour reportedly quipped: “We used to hear about shouts of tactics at 2 a.m. Now we expect champagne corks.”

⚽ A Step Up with Serie A

Just as Palermo have climbed back into Serie A, their manager has also moved up a level. From the hum of the bunker to the glamour of the marina, Huber’s new life mirrors the club’s own ambitions: no longer fighting for scraps but stepping into the spotlight.

👉 Next Up: Serie A Continues. After the glamour comes reality: tough matches, tactical tests, and the battle for survival.

📉 26: Settling In — Lessons From Serie A’s Early Weeks

The roar of the Stadio Renzo Barbera was still ringing in the players’ ears after the opening day. A poor first-half had promised Palermo a nightmare return, but Jacques Huber quickly reminded Serie A not to underestimate the Rosanero. The challenge was clear: survival would demand discipline and resilience.

🏟️ Results Round-Up

Matchday 2 — Milan 3–0 Palermo (A)
Palermo’s first trip to San Siro was a brutal reminder of Serie A’s level. With Tzimas and Ranocchia back in the XI, Huber’s side barely had time to settle before Rafael Leão headed in a Saelemaekers cross on 7 minutes, then doubled the lead on 39’ by slotting home after slick work down the left from Pervis Estupiñán. Palermo showed more fight after the break and were handed a lifeline when Estupiñán was sent off for a nasty tackle on Pierozzi in the 78th minute, but Milan held firm and even killed the game on the counter, Alex Jiménez making it 3–0 late on. A chastening night for Palermo, and a clear marker of the challenge ahead.

Matchday 3 — Palermo 1–0 Pescara (H)
Palermo picked up their first win of the season with a controlled display at the Renzo Barbera against fellow newly promoted side Pescara. Huber’s team dominated the first half and finally broke through on 42 minutes, when Ranocchia threaded a clever pass in behind for Haissem Hassan, who opened his Serie A account by curling a gorgeous finish into the top corner. The second half was tighter and Palermo failed to kill the game off, but the back line held firm to secure a valuable 1–0 victory and their first top-flight three points under Huber.

Matchday 4 — Juventus 5–0 Palermo (A)
Palermo’s trip to Turin turned into a nightmare, overshadowing the emotional return of Yeremay, who made his first appearance in six months after a serious spinal injury. Under new boss Roberto De Zerbi, Juve started at full throttle: Khéphren Thuram smashed in a stunning opener after just 6 minutes, and Francisco Conceição doubled the lead with another brilliant finish on 28’. Palermo carved out a couple of chances but couldn’t find a way back, and Jonathan David’s strike early in the second half effectively ended the contest at 3–0. Mariano Troilo then conceded a penalty on 71 minutes, coolly dispatched by Dušan Vlahović, before new signing Rodrigo Mora added a fifth on 86’. A humbling 5–0 defeat and a stark reminder of the gulf Palermo must bridge to compete with Italy’s elite.

Coppa Italia — Palermo 3–0 Juve Stabia (H)
On a rainy afternoon at the Renzo Barbera, Palermo cruised into the next round with a comfortable win over Juve Stabia. Tzimas opened the scoring on 29 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to fire home, before Marco Turconi doubled the lead on 67’ with a strike that took a helpful deflection on its way in. Jacopo Segre then capped things off four minutes later, arriving late in the area to slot home for 3–0. A professional, drama-free victory and a welcome clean sheet after some bruising league fixtures.

Matchday 5 — Palermo 0–2 Atalanta (H)
Palermo’s afternoon started in the worst possible way as El Bilal Touré nodded Atalanta in front from a corner inside the first minute, plunging the Renzo Barbera into early silence. Huber’s side gradually grew into the game and pushed hard after the break, coming agonisingly close to an equaliser on 57 minutes when Jacopo Segre slipped Tzimas through, only for the striker to hit the outside of the post. Against the run of play, Atalanta killed it off late on, Fiete Arp turning in a wicked Bellanova cross to make it 2–0. A harsh reminder of Serie A’s fine margins on a day where Palermo competed but couldn’t find a way back.

Matchday 6 — Genoa 1–1 Palermo (A)
Palermo endured another slow start at Marassi, falling behind on 7 minutes when Mikael Egill Ellertsson finished a Genoa move to put the hosts in front. Huber’s side gradually settled and got their reward later in the second half, as Jacopo Segre surged down the flank and cut the ball across for Stefanos Tzimas to sweep home his first Serie A goal, levelling the game on 65’. Both teams probed in the final half hour without carving out a decisive chance, and Palermo dug in to see out a 1–1 draw. An important point on the road and a good moment for their No. 9 after a poor start to the season.

📊 League Table Snapshot

A single win, two draws, and three humbling defeats leave Palermo hovering above the relegation zone. Not disastrous, but not comfortable either, especially with both Napoli and Inter below them. Serie A has shown its teeth.

⚠️ Club Investment 

Following promotion, Palermo have started upgrading both their senior and youth training facilities. Around €4.2m is being spent on the first-team complex, due for completion in January 2027, and a further €2.3m on the youth facilities, expected to finish in February 2027. Clear signs of the City Football Group’s intent and ambition for the club’s long-term future.

📰 Press Reaction

• La Repubblica Palermo:
  “Serie A is unforgiving, but Palermo are not overawed. A draw away and a home win suggest they belong here. The question is whether the squad has the depth to endure.”
• La Gazzetta dello Sport:
  “Palermo are brave, but perhaps too brave. Their defensive structure is fragile, and opponents are punishing them. If adjustments aren’t made, survival will be a constant battle.”

👉 Next Up: Home Is Where the Mister Is. Away from the pitch, Jacques Huber has reportedly secured his own Palermo apartment. A glossy lifestyle piece, or the city’s latest gossip headline?

⚽ 25: Opening Day in Serie A

Palermo’s Return to the Big Stage

📋 Starting XI

Huber’s first Serie A lineup looked like this:

Huber kept faith with most of the core that had carried Palermo up, but his hand was forced into a few changes. The shape was familiar: a 4-3-3 in possession, adjusted with the pre-season tweaks: a slightly deeper defensive line, wingers tracking back narrower, and a clear plan to break forward at speed in transition.

Short-term injuries to Stefanos Tzimas and Filippo Ranocchia in the week leading up to the game, combined with Yeremay’s long-term absence and a knock for Giacomo Corona, left Palermo’s attack looking lighter than planned for their return to the top flight. New signing Haissem Hassan and Jérémy Le Douaron started on the wings, while Huber made an unusually bold call through the middle: 16-year-old Marco Turconi, trusted to lead the line as a false nine in Palermo’s first Serie A match since 2017.

🏟️ Match Report

The Curva Nord unfurled its first top-flight banner in six years, pink and black stretching across the stand under the floodlights. The Renzo Barbera was packed, loud, and restless. Palermo were back in Serie A.

What followed, at first, was pure tension. The opening 20 minutes were cagey, neither side creating a clear chance until Christian Comotto let fly from distance on 21 minutes, forcing Łukasz Skorupski into a sharp save and a corner. From that set piece, Bologna only half-cleared; Haissem Hassan met the loose ball on the edge of the box and drew another stop from the keeper. It felt like Palermo were edging into the game, which is why the punch the other way hurt twice as much. On 30 minutes, Santiago Castro threaded a pass through for Tommaso Pobega, who finished coolly past Desplanches. Four minutes later, Castro made it 0–2 himself, volleying home after a lofted ball from Juan Miranda. Just before half-time, Turconi thought he’d pulled one back after lovely wing play from Haissem Hassan, only for the linesman’s flag to cut the celebrations short. Palermo went in two goals down.

Belief returned almost immediately after the restart. On 52 minutes, Palumbo drove to the byline and cut the ball back for Comotto, who marked his league debut by sweeping a composed finish into the corner. Astonishingly, from Bologna’s kick-off, Palermo pressed, won the ball back high and stitched together a flowing move down the left; this time Comotto returned the favour, laying the ball off for Palumbo to smash in the equaliser on 53 minutes. The noise inside the Barbera was deafening. Two goals in a minute, 2–2, and Serie A suddenly didn’t feel so intimidating.

Bologna reminded everyone of the level on 63 minutes, rattling the crossbar with a header from a corner, but neither side could find a decisive third. The final whistle brought applause more than ecstasy: a 2–2 draw, a comeback from 0–2 down, and a valuable first point on Palermo’s return to the top flight. Proof that Huber’s side might just be able to live at this level.

🗣️ Huber’s Take

“For half an hour we were too timid, and Serie A punished us. But the reaction after the break was pure Palermo. To come from 0–2 down and play with that courage says a lot about this group. We still have many details to improve, but if we keep this spirit, the points will come.”

🔑Key Notes

• Christian Comotto scored Palermo’s first Serie A goal since 2017 on his league debut.
• 16-year-old Marco Turconi started as a false nine and had a goal ruled out for offside after clever movement. Remarkably he did not look out of place at this level.
• Defensive lapses in a four-minute spell before half-time showed how unforgiving Serie A can be.
• The Curva Nord never stopped singing, turning a nervy opener into a statement that Palermo are truly back in the big time.

⚽ Coppa Italia — Palermo 3–0 Mantova (H)

Before the league opener, Palermo also quietly took care of business in the Coppa Italia with a comfortable win over Mantova. Ceccaroni opened the scoring at 7’ with a towering header from a Ranocchia corner, an early sign that the new set-piece work might be paying off. Ranocchia, anchoring the midfield in a deeper role, then stepped up to arrow in a long-range strike for 2–0 (60’). Late on, Stefanos Tzimas finally broke his pre-season drought, pouncing on a loose ball in the box on 67’ to fire home the third. Among the new faces, both Honest Ahanor and Mariano Troilo impressed, offering early encouragement that Palermo’s summer business has added real substance to the backline.

👉 Next Up: Settling In. The opening day showed both pain and promise. Now comes the real test: finding points in a brutal first run of fixtures.

⚽ 24: Pre-Season Friendlies — First Steps Toward Serie A

🏔️ Fénis Tour

The crickets were loud as Jacques Huber and his staff strolled back from the training pitches in Fénis, shirts sticking after another double session in the thin Valle d’Aosta air. Serie A loomed, and so did the weight of history. Palermo hadn’t been in the topflight since 2017, and no one was under any illusions about how steep the climb would be.

Samir Halimi flicked a towel over his shoulder and grinned. “Not bad for the first week away, Mister. But the real test was that yacht in Mykonos. Costa, Todaro, Romano? Which was it again?”

Tobi Okori laughed, shaking his head. “Forget double sessions, Jacques is doing triple rotations in the gossip pages.”

Jacques rolled his eyes but smiled. “You two worry more about Pisa and less about magazines.”

“Pisa? Please,” Tobi shot back. “My challenge is convincing Dayo and Zuri that their new school in Palermo won’t be the end of civilisation.”

Samir clapped Jacques on the back. “And you – just hurry up and find your own place. I’ve already picked the paint colours once you’re out the bunker. Your notebooks and magnets are going straight in the bin.”

As they reached the edge of the complex, Tobi’s tone shifted. He looked out across the empty pitches, arms folded. “On a real though, Serie A is going to be a different beast. The boys are buzzing, sure, but it’s not going to be like last year. Every mistake will cost us twice as much.”

Samir shrugged, still smiling. “That’s good. Fear keeps you sharp. Besides, we’ve already beaten the odds once. Why not again?”

Jacques listened, smiling faintly. He knew they’d need both perspectives: Tobi’s realism and Samir’s optimism. Between them, he felt Palermo had the balance to face what was coming. The work was serious, but he was confident in his team to give it a go.

🏟️ Match Results

Palermo came through pre-season unbeaten, but it was very much a mixed bag as Huber used the games to road-test a more conservative mid-block ahead of Serie A.

• Palermo 1–1 FC København — (Palumbo)
• Palermo 5-1 Union Saint-Gilloise — (Gomes, Le Douaron, Ranocchia (2), Segre)
• Bari 2-2 Palermo — (Le Douaron, Palumbo)
• Pisa 1-3 Palermo — (Ceccaroni, Giovane, Ranocchia)
• Südtirol 1-1 Palermo — (Palumbo)
• Lecco 0-0 Palermo — (N/A)

📝 Tactical Adjustments

Huber’s core philosophy hasn’t changed, but Serie A demands tweaks. Palermo will still play with ambition, yet their style has been tuned to survive against stronger, smarter opposition.

• Selective pressing – Instead of relentless all-pitch pressure, Palermo now spring targeted traps in midfield zones.
• Compact out of possession – Wingers tuck in slightly narrower to protect central spaces, staying ready to explode forward on the break.
• Quicker transitions – With less of the ball expected, the focus is on punishing mistakes: win it, play forward, and attack at speed.
• Set-piece focus – The arrival of a new specialist coach has seen extra hours on dead balls, a vital weapon for any newly promoted side.

Huber summed it up during the camp: “We still want to be brave, but bravery in Serie A is not the same as in Serie B. Sometimes intelligence is knowing when not to chase everything.”

Early pre-season results reflected that balance: flashes of creativity in possession, wrapped in a more measured, structured approach without the ball.

🌟 Who Impressed

• Filippo Ranocchia looked sharp, comfortably alternating between a more advanced role and a deeper midfield position upon the sale of Claudio Gomes.
• Mariano Troilo settled quickly at the heart of the defence, looking calm on the ball and aggressive in duels.
• Marco Turconi played with maturity beyond his years. With Yeremay sidelined for the start of the season, the youngster may initially see more minutes out wide, and on this evidence, he looks ready for the responsibility.

⚠️ Who Struggled

• Stefanos Tzimas has looked a little off the pace this pre-season, finishing without a goal. Hopefully it’s just a case of playing his way back to full fitness and he’ll be ready once the competitive fixtures begin.
• Defensive lapses have cropped up too often, even against lower-level opposition – a sharp reminder of how ruthless Serie A could be while a new-look squad is still bedding in.

📰 Press Reaction

• La Gazzetta dello Sport:

“Six years out of Serie A leaves scars. Palermo’s enthusiasm is clear, but this league punishes naivety. Survival will take more than bold ideas.”

• Il Giornale di Sicilia:

“Palermo’s return feels different. Under Huber, there is identity, energy, and togetherness. Serie A will be brutal, but for the first time since 2017, hope feels genuine.”

👉 Next Up: Opening Day in Serie A. The pink shirts return to the big stage. Can Huber’s Palermo make a debut to remember?

✈️ 23: New Season, New Look — Palermo Prepare for Serie A

The party is over. The confetti has been swept from the pitch at the Renzo Barbera, and Palermo are back to work. Serie A awaits, and with it the challenge of proving last season’s triumph was not a one-off.

This summer has already seen change, new signings, new staff, and a fresh look on the shirt, but the biggest shift is in ambition. Palermo are no longer chasing promotion. They are defending their place among Italy’s elite.

🔄 Transfer Business

Palermo’s first summer back in the big time has started with clear intent.

💰 Arrivals (€35m)

• Stefanos Tzimas (20, Greece) — €29m from Brighton & Hove Albion
  The headline deal. Palermo have smashed their transfer record to bring back last season’s talisman on a permanent basis. Palermo paid €1m more than his loan clause, in exchange for a far more manageable structure: around €17m up front, with the rest spread across instalments and achievable add-ons. It’s a huge outlay, but for Huber, building his attack around Tzimas was non-negotiable.

• Mariano Troilo (23, Argentina) — €3.8m from Parma
  A ball-playing Argentinian centre back with Italian roots (the Troilo surname is most common in Apulia), Mariano arrives to add energy, bite, and a bit of South American technical ability to the squad. At 3.8 million, he’s a fairly safe bet on a player who can grow with Palermo in Serie A.

• Haissem Hassan (24, Egypt) — €2.2m from Real Oviedo
  A 24-year-old Egyptian winger with electric pace and sharp dribbling, Hassan arrives as a good-value replacement for Seydou Fini, who returned to Genoa after his loan. Comfortable on either flank and dangerous 1v1, he gives Huber another direct option out wide for the step up to Serie A.

• Christian Comotto (18, Rome, Lazio) — loan from Milan
  Born in Rome, Comotto arrives on loan to bolster the midfield. Comfortable on the ball and already very well-rounded, he gives Huber another creative option between the lines without a major financial commitment.

• Honest Ahanor (18, Aversa, Campania) — loan from Atalanta (with option)
  Raised in Aversa, just north of Naples, Ahanor joins on a loan deal worth €2.2m, with a €10.25m option to buy. Athletic, technically sound, and capable of playing multiple roles, he’s very much an audition signing intended to play inverted wingback: impress, and Palermo will look to make the move permanent next summer.

🔚Departures (€34.5m)

As ever after promotion, the other side of the mercato has been just as busy, and a little more emotional.

• Kristoffer Lund → Fulham — €7.75m
  After a strong loan spell at Köln, Lund drew Premier League interest and Fulham put real money on the table. Palermo accepted, using the sizeable fee to help finance the Tzimas deal.
• Salim Diakité → Rennes — €6.25m
  Rennes also came calling with a sizeable offer and Diakité moves back to France. The plan is for returning loanee Alessio Buttaro, fresh from Foggia, to step into his squad role.
• Matteo Brunori → Angers — €4.8m
  The heartbreaker. Captain, promotion icon, and scorer of big goals, Brunori wanted guaranteed starts that Huber simply couldn’t offer with Tzimas returning. Palermo cashed in at a good price, but emotionally this is the toughest goodbye of the summer.
• Claudio Gomes → Paris FC — €4.3m
  A promotion stalwart whose January transfer request lingered into the summer. With disruption growing and an offer on the table, Palermo chose to cash in and reshape the midfield.
• Giangiacomo Magnani → Swansea — €2.9m
  Back from loan and behind in the pecking order, Magnani leaves for the Championship in a move that suits all parties.
• Patryk Peda → Al-Hazem — €2.9m
  With Troilo arriving and other centre-back options ahead of him, Peda was deemed surplus and moves on for a great fee.
• Jesse Joronen → Cesena — €2.6m
  A stalwart of the promotion campaign and Coppa hero, Joronen moves on after losing his No.1 spot in all but name to returning loanee Sebastiano Desplanches. A fair fee and a dignified exit for a key figure in year one.
• Tommaso Augello → Sporting Gijón — €2.6m
  Contract talks broke down and Augello heads to Spain. The hope is that Honest Ahanor, plus internal options, can cover his minutes at left-back and in the inverted role.
• Stredair Appuah Owusu → San Diego — €1.1m
  After spending last season out on loan, the winger makes a permanent move to MLS.
• Valerio Verre → Salernitana — €750k
  Frustrated by limited minutes and overtaken by Turconi, Verre heads out in search of a more prominent role.
• Fringe exits
  Several other squad players depart for regular football elsewhere: Dario Šarić to Antalyaspor for €1.2m, Francesco Bardi to Al-Dhafra for €225k, and Leo Štulac to Luton Town for €150k.

Huber, calm as ever, hasn’t panicked about the turnover.

“We need players who fit the identity,” he told the local press. “We’ll strengthen, but always with purpose.”

👥 Staff Expansion

Promotion has brought room to grow, and Palermo have quietly reshaped the backroom team. Several new Italian staff members have arrived, blending local expertise with Huber’s trusted lieutenants. Among them are Palermo-born Fitness coach Vincenzo Teresa, Foggia native Marcello Quinto, and Rome-born goalkeeping coach Lorenzo Bucchi.

There have been departures too: set-piece specialist Habeeb Nwankwo has been lured away by Fiorentina, with Greek coach Antonis Garozis brought in as his replacement.

The changes strengthen Palermo’s coaching, scouting, and fitness departments – all vital for surviving a long Serie A campaign. Behind the scenes, integration is no longer just a goal but a reality: Huber, Fairclough, Okori, Halimi, and Sullivan all now speak Italian, and their voices mix naturally with the new locals around the training ground. As one staff member put it, “It feels more complete now.”

👕 A New Era in Pink and Black

The new Palermo is also a new look Palermo. Adidas have built upon their manufacturing of the training kit and have now taken over from Puma as playing kit suppliers, while Etihad Airways becomes the new front-of-shirt sponsor. The connection to the City Football Group has never been clearer.

The shirts themselves speak of ambition:

• Home: Classic pink with sharp black and white trim, a statement of identity.
• Away: A deep navy with a retro badge, striped collar, and subtle pink accents, sleek and modern.
• Third: A bold white-and-blue pattern with the adidas originals logo designed to stand out.

🌍Pre-Season in the Valle d’Aosta — Fénis, Italy

Palermo’s summer work begins far from Sicily’s heat, in the cooler air of the Alps. The squad has set up camp in Fénis, a small town in the Valle d’Aosta, using the quiet surroundings and mountain backdrop to prepare for life in Serie A. The friendlies are against local Italian opposition and some teams in the area, more about sharpness and rhythm than glamour.

For Huber, the choice of location is deliberate. “It’s still Italy, still our football culture,” he explained, “but it’s calm, away from the noise. The players can focus, breathe, and reset.” Training sessions echo around the valley, shouts bouncing off the hills, and between double sessions there are small smiles and stolen photos of the mountains. This is hard work, but after last season, it also feels like a quiet reward before the storm of Serie A.

👉 Next Up: Pre-Season Friendlies. Palermo take to the pitch for the first time since their title celebrations. Who shines, who struggles, and what do the early signs say about their Serie A readiness?

📋 22: End of Season Review & Checklist Progress

🎭Behind the Curtain

Before we look ahead to Serie A and review this first season, I want to briefly reflect on the series itself. I don’t know how many people are actually reading these posts, but I hope you’re enjoying this slightly different take on a save. With FM26 having its fair share of issues, forcing myself to roleplay a manager and build stories around the game has helped me hang onto some of that FM magic that feels missing this year.

I won’t lie though, it is really time-consuming: planning and writing posts, generating AI images, stopping mid-game to jot down notes on goals and key moments. But I’ve genuinely had fun doing it and do encourage it for those on the fence.

As for the save, if I’m honest, I’ve never had a first season go this smoothly. The rest of the league were pretty poor, and there were times while writing when I found myself wishing for a bit more jeopardy and nerves. That’s probably why I leaned harder into the “lifestyle” side of things this year: the off-pitch stories, the dinners, the Curva Nord moments etc.. That balance might shift a bit next season, when the fight to stay in Serie A begins, but at the same time it might not. 

Anyway this has been a bit of a ramble to break the fourth wall, but thanks guys. Hope you have enjoyed this first season.

🏆 End of Season Awards

• Serie B Player of the Year: Stefanos Tzimas, Palermo (7.48).
• Serie B Young Player of the Year: Stefanos Tzimas, Palermo (7.48).
• Serie B Goalkeeper of the Year: Sebastiano Desplanches, Pescara (7.07)
• Serie B Top Goalscorer: Stefanos Tzimas, Palermo (24 Goals).
• Serie B Golden Glove: Sebastiano Desplanches, Pescara (16 Clean Sheets)
• Serie B Goal of the Season: Cesar Falletti, Mantova (vs Frosinone). Gyasi came third for a goal against Monza.
• Palermo Signing of the Season: Stefanos Tzimas – 25 goals in 28 appearances slotted in seamlessly and proved crucial to the promotion push.
• Team of the Season (Best XI):
   

🌍 Winners Around the World

While Palermo were writing their story in Serie B, the rest of the footballing world kept turning:

• 🏆 Champions League – Liverpool 2–0 Barcelona
  Arne Slot’s men claimed Europe’s biggest prize with a dominant win over Barça.
• 🏆 Europa League – Nice 1–0 Aston Villa
  A tight final settled by a single goal, as Nice lifted their first major European trophy.
• 🏆 Europa Conference League – Crystal Palace 1–0 Fiorentina
  Palace and Glasner made history again with a narrow win, adding their name to UEFA’s growing roll of honour.
• 🇮🇹 Serie A – Roma
  Roma won a dramatic title play-off against Atalanta, edging it on penalties to be crowned champions of Italy.
• 🇪🇸 La Liga – Atlético Madrid
  Atleti miraculously muscled past Spain’s giants to take the title.
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Premier League – Arsenal
  The Gunners and Mikel finally finished top of the pile in England. No more bottle jobs.
• 🇩🇪 Bundesliga – Bayern Munich
  Some things never change: Bayern back on the throne in Germany.
• 🇫🇷 Ligue 1 – Paris St. Germain
  Paris dominant as always in France, winning the league comfortably by over 13 points.
• 🌎 World Cup – France
  Les Bleus added yet another star to their shirt, winning the biggest prize of all. Mbappe had the most goals and most assists in the tournament.

✅ Checklist Progress

Obviously this save isn’t just about results, it’s about adhering to some rules. Here’s what we’ve ticked off so far:

• 👶 Sicilian Identity: Three Sicilian players in the squad, all from Palermo. Marco Turconi, who became both the club’s youngest ever player and youngest ever goalscorer last season, plus two strikers: Salvatore Di Mitri, handed his debut by Huber, and Giacomo Corona, now back from his loan spell.
• 🏆 Domestic Success: Promotion to Serie A secured and the Serie B title wrapped up in the same season.
• 🧑‍💼 Managerial Milestone: Huber delivers promotion in his first year in charge and is now listed among Palermo’s favoured personnel, alongside Stefanos Tzimas and Matteo Brunori.

Not a bad start for year one. The journey has only just begun, but the boxes already ticked show Palermo is heading firmly in the right direction.

📷 The Full Checklist

Next Up: Transfers & Preparations. Palermo step into a new era: fresh faces arrive, staff changes reflect Serie A ambitions, and the Rosanero unveil their new look under Adidas with Etihad Airways across the chest. The journey to top-flight football begins here.

📰 21: Sicilia Gossip

“Il Mister Playboy: Dinners, Islands, and New Seasons”

The first part of the summer may have been quiet for Palermo’s transfer market, but off the pitch, Jacques Huber has kept Sicilian tongues wagging.

Fresh from securing promotion to Serie A, the 33-year-old coach was spotted dining with leaders of the Curva Nord ultras in the days following Palermo’s title celebrations. Eyewitnesses describe the meeting as “convivial but serious,” suggesting Huber is keen to strengthen his ties with the club’s most passionate fanbase. But the Curva Nord’s history is checkered. Some of its leading figures carry criminal records, and whispers of Cosa Nostra links continue to cast a shadow. For a newly crowned champion to be seen so close with them has certainly raised eyebrows across the city.

If that wasn’t enough, whispers from the Aegean suggest Huber’s holiday took him far from Sicily. The Palermo boss was seen on the luxury beaches of Mykonos, in the company of fashion designer Claudia Costa. Sun-soaked yacht trips and late-night dinners mark what seems like a sustained relationship between the pair, after a brief spell where Huber was linked to modelling agent Renata Romano.

Romano herself may now be regretting that chapter. Once the architect of Alessio Todaro’s rise, she distanced herself from the model to focus her attention on Huber – a gamble that now looks costly, both personally and professionally.

“She burned one bridge too many,” one Palermo insider quipped. “And for what? Il Mister Playboy doesn’t stay still for long.”

With the beginning of preseason a few weeks away, Palermo fans may hope their manager shows the same intensity on the pitch as he does off it. One thing is certain: all eyes will be on Huber, both in the dugout and beyond.

👉 Next Up: End of Season Review & Checklist Progress. With Palermo’s title celebrations fading, we take a step back to look at the season just gone: the standout performers, the goals that lit up Serie B, and which long-term challenges have already been ticked off on the road to building Sicily’s club.

⚽ 20: Back on the Pitch — The Final Stretch

Promotion is already in the bag, but the season isn’t over. With six games to go, Huber has shifted focus: rotating the squad, giving minutes to youngsters, and quietly beginning the monumental task of shaping a team that can survive in Serie A. The pressure has changed, but the work hasn’t. This is the phase where auditions and early plans for the topflight begin.

📰 Transfer News — Clauses and Complications

Promotion hasn’t just changed Palermo’s status; it’s also triggered a series of mandatory purchase clauses that could complicate summer planning. With Serie A on the horizon, three loan deals have automatically become permanent:

• Emmanuel Gyasi joins for around €1.2m, a useful and versatile wide option, who has featured regularly and contributed 7 goals and 5 assists.
• Samuel Giovane, a midfielder with just two substitute appearances, is also locked in for €1.2m.
• Davide Veroli, the young centre-back with only four starts this season, is confirmed for a sizeable €3m.

In total, that’s over €5m committed to players who haven’t been consistent starters or who don’t agree with Palermo’s new direction. These deals serve as a reminder that Palermo’s first battle in Serie A may be fought on the balance sheet as much as on the pitch.

⏳ Final Matches

Matchday 33 — Palermo 3–0 Avellino (H)
In a party atmosphere at the Renzo Barbera, Avellino formed the first of what will be six guards of honour for the newly crowned champions before kick-off. Palermo took control early, with Gyasi heading in at the back post on 28 minutes to open the scoring, and Yeremay curling home a lovely effort for 2–0 on 51’. The loudest roar of the night came on 66’, when 16-year-old Palermo-born attacking midfielder Marco Turconi made his senior debut, replacing Ranocchia in midfield. Jacopo Segre added a tidy finish in the 90+4th minute to seal a comfortable 3–0 win, as the champions enjoyed their first outing of the post-promotion lap.

Matchday 34 — Frosinone 1–3 Palermo (A)
Palermo spoiled Frosinone’s day with a sharp, clinical display on the road. Brunori set the tone on 19 minutes, winning the ball high up the pitch and finishing himself, before another aggressive press on 39’ saw Yeremay intercept a pass from the goalkeeper and brilliantly lob him from 25 yards for 2–0. The moment of the night came on 60 minutes however, as Stefanos Tzimas, out for months with injury, returned to a huge standing ovation from the away end. Frosinone hit back through Massimo Zilli on 68’, but of course it was Tzimas who eventually restored the two-goal cushion, pouncing on a rebound in the six-yard box to tap home his first goal since the start of January and seal a 3–1 victory for the champions.

Matchday 35 — Palermo 0–1 Cesena (H)
With Palumbo injured and Segre nursing a knock, 16-year-old Marco Turconi was handed his first senior start as Palermo hosted Cesena. The visitors struck early, Berti finishing a cutback on 6 minutes, and despite Palermo dominating territory and possession thereafter, chances of real quality were hard to come by. Tzimas worked tirelessly up front but service was limited, and Cesena held firm to claim a 1–0 win. On a flat night at the Renzo Barbera, Turconi was the generally the brightest spark, showing composure and personality in an otherwise disjointed Palermo display.

Matchday 36 — Reggiana 1–2 Palermo (A)
With injuries to Fini and Yeremay, 16-year-old Marco Turconi kept his place at Reggiana but this time he was pushed out wide. In the end, Huber’s faith was spectacularly rewarded. On 15 minutes the youngster twisted his marker inside and out before curling a gorgeous finish into the bottom-left corner for his first senior goal. Manuel Marras unfortunately levelled four minutes later. After the break, Turconi produced again, floating a lovely lofted pass in behind for Tzimas, who coolly converted on 51 minutes. Palermo saw out a 2–1 win, and it was hard to escape the feeling that a new golden boy had just announced himself.

Matchday 37 — Palermo 0–1 Catanzaro (H)
Palermo suffered a frustrating defeat at the Renzo Barbera despite dominating from start to finish. Catanzaro snatched the lead on 25 minutes when Matias Antonini rose highest to head home from a corner, then retreated into a deep block. Huber’s side piled on the pressure and finally earned a lifeline on 74 minutes when Le Douaron won a penalty, but Tzimas saw his spot-kick saved. Palermo continued to camp in Catanzaro’s half, yet the equaliser never came, turning a one-sided performance into another reminder that control without goals can still leave you empty-handed, even if you are the champions.

Matchday 38 — Venezia 1–2 Palermo (A)
Palermo closed their title-winning season with a tidy 2–1 victory away to Venezia, inspired by Filippo Ranocchia and Marco Turconi. Ranocchia opened the scoring on 14 minutes, stroking home from outside the box after a neat pass from Turconi, and the pair combined again on 53’ as the teenager slipped him through to double the lead. Andrea Adorante pulled one back with a header on 67 minutes, but Huber’s side saw out the remaining minutes with composure, ending their campaign with three points and another glimpse of the Ranocchia–Turconi axis that could define Palermo’s future in Serie A.

📈 The Final Standings

💥Injury Update — Yeremay Blow

The winless night against Cesena in Matchday 35 also brought more than just a flat performance. Post-match scans revealed that Yeremay suffered a spinal injury from a heavy tackle during the game. He will need to see a specialist and is expected to be sidelined for around six months, ruling him out of pre-season and the start of Palermo’s Serie A campaign.

For one of Huber’s key attacking sparks and Palermo’s second most expensive signing ever, it’s a brutal setback. A reminder that Palermo’s first year back in the top flight will be nowhere near as straightforward as this one.

Next Up: Sicilia Gossip. With the final 6 games done and the historic season finished, the celebrations aren’t just on the pitch. From dinners with ultras to luxury island getaways, Jacques Huber’s name is back in the headlines over the summer holidays. 

🎉 19: Palermo Ascend: Champions of Serie B

The final whistle blew, and the away fans erupted. Pink smoke curled into the sky in Padua, chants of “Serie A, Serie A!” rattled through the stands, and Palermo’s long wait was finally over. Tonight, despite a disappointing draw, the title and promotion was finally theirs.

🏟️ Party at the Barbera

Once back at the Barbera, players faced the celebratory crowd with the trophy before embracing one another. Players and staff hoisted thrown scarves and flags above their heads, pointing to the curva where thousands of fans surged, their voices rising in a wall of noise.

Huber, drenched in champagne within minutes, was shoved toward the celebrations by the Sicilian coach, Salvatore Foti. Stefanos Tzimas, the top goalscorer and still with light strapping on his ankle, grabbed Samir in a bear hug before disappearing into a swarm of fans that had made their way towards the advertising boards. Another fan favourite, Antonio Palumbo, climbed the fence to salute the ultras, waving a flare aloft as the curva answered with a roar.

When the trophy was finally lifted, the stadium shook. Pink and black confetti rained down, covering the pitch in the club’s colours. Palermo were finally back where they belong.

🍾 Dressing Room Frenzy

Inside, the atmosphere was chaos. Bottles popped, beer sprayed across the ceiling, and the walls echoed with music and chants. Players danced on benches, drumming on lockers with whatever they could find.

Tobi Okori, usually glued to his laptop, was grinning ear to ear with his young son perched on his shoulders, waving a tiny Palermo flag. Adam Fairclough celebrated alongside his wife, the pair embraced by players who’d come to see him as much more than a coach. Patrick Sullivan was hoisted up by some of the young players he’d pushed to their limits in training, now thanking him in song. Samir Halimi, beer in hand, added to the music with a drumbeat against the benches.

Amidst it all, Salvatore Di Mitri, the young Sicilian doused his teammates with prosecco before sliding across the dressing room floor, cheered on by the squad. Another, Pietro Ceccaroni, stood on a bench and belted out a chant that quickly had the entire room laughing.

Huber himself was soaked in water, beer, and prosecco by the time he escaped the room, smiling through every second.

🌙 A City That Didn’t Sleep

Outside the Barbera, the party spilled into the streets. Car horns blared long into the night, piazzas filled with singing, and fireworks painted the Palermo sky pink and gold. Restaurants stayed open until dawn, pouring wine and beer to anyone wearing the club’s colours. 

Huber and his staff joined the fans briefly on Via della Libertà, where scooters circled in endless loops, and the sound of firecrackers and fireworks was almost constant. Tobi’s children, wide-eyed, were lifted onto fans’ shoulders, while Fairclough’s wife was handed flowers by strangers. The players and coaches couldn’t move ten metres without being stopped for embraces, selfies, or toasts.

Among the squad, Mattia Bani was spotted leading a chant from atop a restaurant table, while Jeremy Le Douaron signed autographs until his hand cramped, surrounded by kids in pink shirts.

It wasn’t just a victory. It was a collective release, years of frustration poured into a single night of joy. 

🍽️ The Days After

In the quiet that followed, Palermo began to catch its breath. But for Jacques Huber, celebration came with new invitations. A private dinner was arranged by senior figures in the curva. Men who had stood at the front of the chants on Saturday, but whose reputations stretched beyond football.

It was warm, welcoming, almost familial: handshakes, embraces, toasts of grappa to “Serie A.” Yet beneath the laughter and congratulations, there was weight. These were not just supporters, but men with involvement in Palermo’s streets as well as its stands.

Huber, glass in hand, listened more than he spoke. Success had brought him glory, but also new company. In Sicily, victories on the pitch echo far beyond the stadium walls.

Next Up: The Final Stretch, Palermo have achieved their dream of promotion. With six games left to play there is time to rotate and begin planning for next season.

🔥 18: A Clash of Futures — Palermo Crowned Champions at last?

⚽ Matchday 31: Palermo 2–3 Juve Stabia — Party on Hold

The Renzo Barbera hadn’t felt like this in years. The stands were packed, pink shirts everywhere, flares already smoking before kick-off. Everything about the night screamed promotion party. One point would be enough to seal Serie A, a win would crown Palermo champions. Juve Stabia arrived as awkward guests, but most of the city expected a celebration.

Instead, they got ninety minutes of torture.

Palermo started on the front foot, dominating the ball, and almost took the lead when Brunori slid in Ranocchia on 9 minutes, only for Alessandro Confente to save. From the resulting corner, though, the script flipped: Juve Stabia broke the length of the pitch and Giacomo De Pieri finished an incisive move on 10’, silencing the stadium. Palumbo blazed a big chance over on 26’, Ceccaroni thumped a header off the bar in stoppage time, and the Barbera went into the interval buzzing with frustration rather than joy.

After the break, chaos. Le Douaron finally dragged Palermo level on 56’ after a scrambled corner was worked back out and Ceccaroni picked him out at the back post, only for De Pieri to restore the visitors’ lead four minutes later on a lightning counter. A clumsy foul on Palumbo brought a penalty on 62’, and Brunori coolly made it 2–2 on 63’, the stadium briefly believing again… until De Pieri ghosted into the box to complete his hat-trick on 66’. Palumbo’s second yellow on 70’ left Palermo chasing the game with ten men; Diakité’s late header from a free kick shaved the post but wouldn’t go in.

When the final whistle blew, there was no pitch invasion, no trophy, just a stunned silence broken by scattered applause and cheering from the away end. On phones around the stadium, the other scorelines flashed up: Spezia 1–1 Empoli and Pescara 3–1 Virtus Entella. The draw and Pescara’s win meant Palermo still held a commanding lead. The promotion and the title all but inevitable, but mathematically the job still wasn’t finished. The city would have to wait a little longer for its party.

⚽ Matchday 32: Padova 1–1 Palermo — Champions of Serie B

A week after the Juve Stabia gut punch, Palermo travelled to Padova with the equations simple again: one point would guarantee both promotion and the title. No flares, no choreography, just a tight ground, a packed away end, and ninety minutes between Huber’s side and history.

Suspended after his red card, Antonio Palumbo could only watch from behind the dugout, perched on a plastic seat in a club tracksuit, living every pass. On the bench, another symbol: Stefanos Tzimas, still technically in recovery, was named in the squad for the first time since his ankle fracture. Even if he never stepped onto the pitch, his presence felt like a promise of what was coming next.

Palermo almost killed the nerves inside the opening thirty seconds. Straight from kick-off, Gyasi broke in down the right and lashed a shot from a tight angle that the keeper beat away. The pattern settled into something cagier, but Huber’s side kept probing. On 37 minutes Claudio Gomes let fly from distance, forcing a smart save. Just before half-time, the breakthrough then finally arrived. A slick move swept from left to right, Segre slipped Gyasi in behind, and the winger then finished low across the keeper on 45’. One hand on the trophy.

The second half was about control rather than chaos, but Padova refused to disappear. As the clock crept toward full-time, the tension rose with it, and in the 86th minute came the twist: a cross swung in from the left and veteran striker Kevin Lasagna stole in at the back post to tap home the equaliser. For a moment, hearts stopped.

Palermo, though, didn’t crumble. They tightened up and saw out the final minutes with professional calm. When the referee finally blew, there was no last-minute winner to clinch it in style – just a hard-earned 1–1 and a release that had been building for months. With six games still to play, Palermo were finally out of reach.

They were champions. They were promoted. Serie A, at last, was officially theirs.

🏆 The Celebration

Back in Palermo, the party began before the players even landed. Thousands filled the Piazza Politeama, singing, dancing, and waving banners. From car roofs, balconies, and scooters, the chant rang out: Serie A, siamo tornati!

At the Barbera, a hastily arranged celebration saw Huber and his squad parade the trophy in front of the curva. On the big screen above the terraces, one message flashed again and again: “Palermo è tornata.” Palermo is back. Then, in a moment that will live long in Palermo folklore, Huber climbed into the curva itself, arms around the ultras, chanting and singing until his voice cracked. Smoke bombs turned the night pink.

📰 Press Reaction

La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Palermo return to Serie A as champions, driven by the bold ideas of Jacques Huber. His connection to the city grows deeper with every week.”

Giornale di Sicilia: “The Barbera is alive again. Palermo is not just back. It has rediscovered its identity.”

Leornard Velocci (Curva Nord spokesperson): “He celebrated with us, in the curva. Not every coach does that. Jacques is one of us now.”

👉 Next Up: Nights of Pink and Black. From the dressing room to the piazzas, join the celebrations as Palermo basks in the glory of their Serie B title and begins to dream of Serie A.

🏡 17: Shifting Spaces: Life Moves on in Palermo

The Via Agrigento apartment was quieter than usual. For months it had been a bunker of football obsession. Whiteboards were cluttered with arrows, laptops glowed deep into the night, late pasta dinners frequently bled into tactical arguments. But now, one of its pillars was packing up.

Tobi Okori’s wife and children had finally arrived in Palermo, ready to settle into a rented house further from the centre and closer to the coast. His suitcases sat packed, while Jacques Huber leaned against the dining table and Samir Halimi fiddled with the magnets on the tactics board.

“You’ll miss my cooking,” Samir joked.

“You mean your garlic bombs,” Tobi shot back with a grin.

Jacques didn’t say much, but he was smiling too. He knew the flat would feel different without Tobi’s late-night lectures on pressing systems. The work wouldn’t stop, of course, but the rhythm of life was shifting.

“It’s the right time,” Tobi said, glancing at a photo of his kids on his phone. “We’ve all sacrificed a lot. Now they get to be part of it.”

As the door clicked shut behind him that night, the apartment felt a little emptier. Less like a bunker, more like just a place to sleep. Palermo’s project was growing up.

📰Sicilia Gossip

💃 “From Todaro to Costa? Palermo’s manager in hot water.” 

Palermo’s Pink Side: Where football meets fashion, nightlife, and whispers from the piazza.

If Palermo fans thought their coach’s only headaches came from Serie B defences, think again. Off the pitch, Jacques Huber seems to be juggling more than tactics.

Sources close to local model Alessia Todaro say she is “furious” after Huber was again pictured with designer Claudia Costa at a romantic restaurant. The two were seen leaving together, sparking rumours of a blossoming romance.

Todaro, once linked to the Palermo boss after her own series of private dinners and outings this winter, is said to feel “cast aside.” One friend told us: “She thought there was something serious. Then suddenly he’s everywhere with Costa.”

And now another twist: Todaro has reportedly parted ways with her agent, Renata Romano. The move raised eyebrows, not least because Romano herself has also been spotted dining with Huber on more than one occasion. What looked professional to some has been described by others as “very familiar.”

Whether it’s love, business, or just Palermo’s rumour mill working overtime, one thing is clear: Jacques Huber is making as many headlines off the pitch as he is on it.

Next Up: A Clash of Futures. With promotion within reach but not yet secured, Palermo face a would-be party against Juve Stabia that should  decide their fate.

🎓 16: Academy Spotlight

Every project has its future, and in Palermo that future walks through the academy gates. Jacques Huber has spoken often about building a club that represents Sicily, not just with its colours but with its players. This week brought the first real test of that promise: the day academy players officially signed as first-year scholars.

⭐ The New Scholars

Marco Turconi (AM, 16, Palermo)
A diminutive number 10 with great vision and sharp instincts in the box, Turconi already finishes with a calmness beyond his years. Around the training ground, some have jokingly called him “Il Ragazzo d’Oro” – the Golden Boy – because chances seem to find him no matter whether he is playing out wide, up front, or in midfield. His talent is undeniable, but there are quiet off-pitch concerns: the attention around him, older friends from the neighbourhood, the distractions that can tug at a teenager in this city of all cities. The club has already paired him with a senior mentor and academy welfare staff to keep his path clear. 

Leonardo Faedda (RW, 16, Castelvetrano)
A quick winger, with good dribbling and flair. He has the building blocks in place to be an excellent prospect, though both mentally and technically he’ll need time to grow into senior football.

Alessandro Gangi (CB, 16, Avola)
A solid tackler and technician. Gangi represents a promising centre back who could grow into a steady presence in the back line if determined enough.

🎙️ Huber’s Take

In his post-intake comments, Huber kept expectations grounded:

“This is only the first step. Talent means little without hard work. But the most important thing today is identity. These boys are Sicilian, and they will grow up knowing they can fight for Palermo. That is the foundation of everything we want to build.”

🌍 Why It Matters

For Palermo, producing homegrown players isn’t just a luxury, it’s central to Huber’s philosophy. Every academy graduate who makes the first team is another thread tying the club to the island. The fans know it, and the club knows it too: youth development is not about filling gaps, but about finally creating heroes who belong to Sicily.

With that, though, comes a duty of care. Palermo are investing not only in coaching, but also in education, mentorship, and safeguarding, clear guardrails to help gifted teenagers handle the spotlight without losing their way.

🔮 Looking Ahead

Not all of these youngsters will make the leap. Some will fade, some will move on, and maybe one or two will rise to carry the torch for a new generation. But this group represents the start of something Huber has promised since his first day in Sicily: a future built in Palermo, for Palermo.

Next Up: Shifting Spaces, life in Palermo is changing. One coach leaves the bunker, while Huber’s off-pitch headlines grow louder. From family moves to fashion-world fallout, the project takes on a new shape.

⚒️ 15: Results and Rhythm

After the release of finally Breaking the Drought at the Renzo, Palermo’s focus snapped back to the long, unforgiving road of Serie B. Seasons aren’t decided by one cathartic night; they’re won in the grind that follows – late evenings, awkward away days, and tired legs that still have to find a way to run.

📊 Match Results

Matchday 26 — Palermo 2–2 Südtirol (H)
Palermo let a two-goal lead slip in a frustrating afternoon at the Renzo Barbera. Palumbo was brought down in the box on 12 minutes, allowing Brunori to smash home the resulting penalty. The captain doubled the advantage on 50’, finishing a low cutback from Gyasi as Huber’s side looked in control. Südtirol, however, refused to fold. Daniele Casiraghi pulled one back on 61 minutes, and Alessandro Mallamo later pounced from a long throw to level the game. Palermo pushed for a winner but couldn’t find it, forced to settle for a 2–2 draw that felt like two points dropped.

Matchday 27 — Pescara 0–1 Palermo (A)
In a top-of-the-table clash against second-placed Pescara, Palermo delivered a statement win on the road. The hosts lined up in an attacking 4-2-2-2 but were stunned after just three minutes when Yeremay reacted quickest to a rebound to put the Rosanero ahead. Huber’s side dominated the rest of the first half, carving out chance after chance and racking up 18 shots. The second half was more even, with Pescara finally posing questions of their own, but Palermo’s organisation without the ball and composure in possession saw them through. A hard-fought 1–0 victory that tightens their grip on top spot.

Matchday 28 — Palermo 2–1 Mantova (H)
Palermo edged Mantova in late, dramatic fashion at the Renzo Barbera. They took the lead on 9 minutes when Jérémy Le Douaron’s off-target strike deflected in for an own goal, before a fairly even game saw the visitors equalise through Mattia Caprini on 74’. Just as a draw seemed inevitable, substitute Seydou Fini won the ball high, raced down the wing and rolled it across for Brunori to tap into an empty net in the 90+4th minute, sealing a precious 2–1 victory.

Matchday 29 — Carrarese 1–2 Palermo (A)
Palermo avenged their early-season defeat to Carrarese with a confident 2–1 win on the road. Huber’s side struck first on 19 minutes, finishing off a well-worked passing move through Ranocchia, before Gyasi doubled the lead on 27’ with a composed finish across the keeper. Carrarese pulled one back on the counter through Tommaso Rubino, but Palermo stayed in control for long spells and, despite several missed chances to extend the scoreline, saw out a deserved victory.

Matchday 30 — Monza 0–1 Palermo (A)
Palermo ground out a fiery 1–0 win away at Monza. A superb team move from back to front ended with Yeremay isolating his man on 9 minutes, cutting inside and curling a brilliant strike into the top corner. Monza’s task got harder on 20’, when Ravanelli was shown a straight red for a two-footed challenge from behind on Palumbo, but the numbers were then levelled early in the second half as Gyasi received a second yellow for a petulant kick out on 47’. Down to ten each, the game became scrappy, yet Huber’s side stayed compact and disciplined to see out a hard-earned victory.

📈 Nearly Home

Palermo sit comfortably clear at the top; the rest of the division have failed to keep pace, and promotion to Serie A is now within touching distance. One more win, at home to Juve Stabia, will crown them champions, while simply avoiding defeat will be enough to seal promotion.

📝 Reflection

Huber has often said that consistency, not drama, wins promotion, and these last five games have proved his point. Palermo haven’t always sparkled, but they’ve been resilient, organised, and willing to scrap for every point. It’s that grit, as much as their moments of flair, that has kept their dream going.

Next Up: Academy Spotlight, youth intake day arrives, and with it the first glimpse of the future Huber has promised: Sicilian talent ready to wear pink.

⚔️ 14: Breaking the Drought — Palermo’s Release at the Renzo

Matchday 25 — Palermo vs Virtus Entella (H), Renzo Barbera (14 February)

By the time Virtus Entella came to town, the Renzo Barbera had started to feel heavy. Palermo hadn’t won at home since the 27 December, goals had dried up since Tzimas’ injury, and every misplaced pass seemed to carry the weight of a promotion juggernaut losing its momentum.

The tension bled into the first half. Palermo saw plenty of the ball but looked nervy and blunt, a pattern all too familiar in recent weeks. Two speculative efforts crashed off the bar in quick succession, drawing gasps rather than roars from the stands, and aside from that there was little to cling to. The Renzo felt stuck between fear and frustration.

At half-time, the stories from inside the tunnel were unanimous: Huber lost his temper. A rare hairdryer with instructions delivered at full volume. Palermo had sleepwalked through enough first halves recently. This one wasn’t going to cost them.

The response after the break was immediate and led in the most part by one man: Antonio Palumbo.

On 50 minutes, Palumbo slid a perfect through ball between the lines for Matteo Brunori, who timed his run and finished low across the keeper for 1–0. Four minutes later it was almost copy-and-paste, Palumbo once again threading a pass into space, this time for Filippo Ranocchia to burst through and make it 2–0 on 54’. The Renzo stirred, then roared.

On 60 minutes, Palumbo decided to take centre stage himself, drifting into the pocket just outside the area and rifling a left-footed strike into the corner. 3–0. Arms spread, head back, he soaked in the noise from the Curva Nord. A player and a stadium exhaling together.

Despite Palumbo’s inspired flurry, the sweetest moment came four minutes later. On 64’, Palumbo once more found space out wide, drove into the box and cut the ball back for Salvatore Di Mitri, the young Sicilian striker, to steer in his first ever professional goal. Teammates swarmed him, pushing him toward the curva as the stadium bounced. From drought to deluge in fifteen minutes.

Of course, this is Palermo, and nothing is ever entirely straightforward. Virtus Entella mounted a late rally, pulling two goals back in five frantic minutes on 67’ and 71’, then smashed the bar not long after to jolt everyone back to attention. For a brief spell, nerves crackled again around the Renzo.

But this time, Huber’s side held firm. The final whistle brought not wild euphoria, but something more grounded: relief. A 4–2 win, four second-half goals, drought broken. In the stands and on the pitch, the feeling was the same. Palermo and the race aren’t finished yet. But they’re almost there.

🎉Huber and the Curva Nord

As the players embraced on the pitch, Huber didn’t head for the dressing room. Instead, he turned toward the Curva Nord, the heart of Palermo’s ultras. He climbed the advertising boards then part of the fence, pumping his fists, and joining the chants echoing from the terrace. Arms outstretched, voice raised, he sang with the fans.

For a moment, the new manager was no longer a foreigner finding his way in Sicily. He was one of them. The curva roared its approval, and the bond between coach and supporters was sealed in the smoke and song of a Palermo victory.

It wasn’t the wild catharsis of a promotion decider, but something more intimate – a manager thanking his people for their patience, and a curva reminding the team that they never truly doubted.

🎙️Post-Match Press Conference

Chiara Fracaros (Corriere dello Sport):
“Jacques, we saw you celebrating on the barriers with the Curva Nord. Given the tension around recent results, do you ever worry that kind of celebration crosses a line for a manager?”

Huber:
He smiled. “No, honestly. For me, football is emotion and connection. These people suffer with us when we don’t win, they sing for ninety minutes even in difficult moments. Tonight, they were patient, they pushed us. To go to them at the end is respect. I don’t see a line I’m crossing. I see a family I’m now part of.”

Alessandro Redaelli (La Repubblica Palermo):
“Palumbo finished with three assists and a goal, and Di Mitri scored his first as a professional. How important were they to changing the game?”

Huber:
“Palumbo was incredible. He changed the rhythm of our play, he took responsibility in a difficult period, and this is what leaders do. And Di Mitri… he’s a boy from Palermo. To score his first goal in front of this curva is something he will remember all his life. These are the moments that connect the team to the city.”

Simona Damone (La Gazzetta dello Sport):
“With this win and the gap at the top, many people are saying promotion is basically secured. Do you agree?”

Huber:
He shook his head. “No. In football, nothing is secured until the mathematics say so. We have built an advantage, yes, but we must protect it with humility. Nights like this help, they give confidence and remind us of our identity, but the danger is to think the job is finished. Promotion is a target, not a guarantee. If we keep this attitude, this intensity, then we will deserve it when it arrives.”

📈League Table Snapshot

The win doesn’t change everything overnight, but it steadies the ship. Palermo remain well clear at the top, edging closer to the finish line with every matchday. After weeks of draws, frustration and narrow defeats, this felt like a return to the side that stormed through autumn.

🔮Looking Ahead

One match doesn’t erase a bad run, but some games reset the mood. Palermo’s 4–2 win over Virtus Entella will be remembered less for the late scare and more for Palumbo’s masterclass, Di Mitri’s first goal, and the sense that the Rosanero have found their spark again.

Next Up: Results & Rhythm, after the high of Virtus Entella, Palermo must keep their foot on the pedal. Can Huber’s side maintain momentum in the grind of Serie B?

 🏟️ 13: Back to Business — January Moves & Serie B Resumes

🔄 Transfer Window Wrap-Up

The January mercato passed without a single signing or sale for Palermo, but it was anything but quiet behind the scenes.

There was significant interest in Claudio Gomes, with multiple Serie A sides and several Premier League clubs, most notably Sunderland, circling. The midfielder even handed in a transfer request, which the club accepted in principle, but no one came close to Palermo’s valuation. For now, Gomes stays at the heart of Huber’s midfield, but this definitely feels like one to watch in the summer.

Young Sicilian striker Salvatore Di Mitri also attracted plenty of loan interest, and the club were close to sending him out for regular minutes. That changed the moment of a serious injury in the squad. With one of their No.9s sidelined for months, Palermo opted to keep Di Mitri in the squad as cover.

No new faces and no departures made it a window that underlined Palermo’s commitment to stability and raised a few intriguing questions for the next mercato.

📊 Results Round-Up

Matchday 19 — Mantova 1–1 Palermo (A)
Fresh from a brief winter break in which Huber was even spotted at a local fashion show, Palermo returned to action with a flat 1–1 draw in Mantova. Tzimas opened the scoring on 13 minutes, glancing in a header from a corner, but the league leaders never fully shifted into pre-break mode. Mantova eventually grew into the game and equalised on 57’, when Nicholas Bonfanti finished off a slick counterattacking move. A rare off-day for Palermo, who had to settle for a point.

Matchday 20 — Palermo 0–0 Spezia (H)
Back at the Renzo Barbera, Palermo were held to a frustrating goalless draw against Spezia. Huber’s side controlled territory but once again struggled to create clear chances, running into a well-organised block and rarely testing the goalkeeper. Another clean sheet, but two points dropped in a game that never really caught fire.

💥Injury Blow – Tzimas Sidelined

Disaster struck in the midweek after the Spezia game as Palermo’s talismanic striker Stefanos Tzimas suffered a fractured ankle in training. Initial scans confirm he will be out for 2–3 months, ruling him out of a crucial stretch of the season just as the fixtures begin to pile up.

With 23 goals in 23 games, Tzimas has been the focal point of Huber’s attack and the symbol of Palermo’s resurgence. His absence now forces a reshuffle up front, with Brunori and youngster Di Mitri both vying to fill an impossible set of boots. The promotion push continues, but without its sharpest weapon.

📊 Results Continued

Matchday 21 — Modena 0–2 Palermo (A)
In their first game without injured talisman Tzimas, Palermo handled an out-of-form Modena with calm authority. Gyasi, freshly back from AFCON, drilled in the opener on 20 minutes, before Claudio Gomes smashed home a strike from just outside the area on 37’. A controlled 2–0 win, built on composure rather than chaos, and early proof that Huber’s side can cope without their star No. 9.

Matchday 22 — Bari 1–0 Palermo (A)
Against rivals Bari, Palermo paid the price for missed chances. Huber’s side dominated the first half, pinning the hosts back but wasting a string of good openings. After the break the intensity dropped, and Bari grew into the game before Leonardo Cerri nodded in at the back post on 74 minutes. Palermo couldn’t find a response and slipped to a flat 1–0 defeat in a match that had looked there for the taking.

Coppa Italia Quarter-Final — Juventus 1–0 Palermo (A)

Palermo’s Coppa Italia adventure ended in brutal fashion in Turin, but not without reminding Serie A that Huber’s side belong on this stage. Up against a Juventus team sitting seventh in the division above them, Palermo set up compact and disciplined, happy to concede possession while denying space between the lines. Juve saw plenty of the ball in a cagey first half but struggled to create anything clear, repeatedly funneled into harmless crosses or long shots as the Rosanero held their shape.

The pattern continued after the break, though Juventus began to threaten more in behind. Kenan Yildiz came closest early in the second half, racing onto a through ball and smacking the post with Joronen beaten. Still, Huber’s men refused to buckle, throwing bodies in the way and looking to steal something on the counter as the clock ticked into stoppage time.

Then came the gut punch. In the 90+6th minute, Khéphren Thuram broke through the lines onto a slipped pass and calmly rolled the ball into the net to finally break Palermo’s resistance. Even then, there was almost one last twist: Yeremay found space on the edge of the box in the 90+8th minute, only to curl his effort agonisingly wide of the far post.

A harsh 1–0 defeat and Coppa exit that makes it just the one win in five for the Rosanero.

Matchday 23 — Palermo 1–1 Empoli (H)
Back at the Renzo Barbera against promotion rivals Empoli, Palermo’s post-Tzimas goal drought continued. Huber’s side dominated possession in the first half but, as has become a theme in recent weeks, struggled to turn control into clear chances. 

The breakthrough finally came on 73 minutes, when Antonio Palumbo stepped up yet again, drilling a low strike from just outside the area into the corner. It looked like another hard-fought 1–0 was on the way—until stoppage time. In the 90+4th minute, Empoli worked a clever corner routine and Gabriele Guarino rose highest to nod home the equaliser. A frustrating 1–1 draw that underlined both Palermo’s defensive solidity and their growing reliance on moments of midfield inspiration without Tzimas.

Matchday 24 — Sampdoria 0–1 Palermo (A)
Palermo edged a tight contest in Genoa to claim a much-needed win. After another quiet first half, the breakthrough came on 47 minutes when Yeremay was tripped in the box. Matteo Brunori took responsibility from the spot and calmly slotted home. Huber’s side managed the game well from there, keeping Sampdoria at arm’s length to secure a solid 1–0 away victory.

Next Up: 🏟️ Breaking the Drought at the Renzo. After weeks without a home win and goals hard to come by Palermo welcome Virtus Entella to a tense Barbera. Can Huber’s side rediscover their spark in front of their own people, or will nerves tighten just as promotion draws near?

📰 12: Sicilia Gossip

💃 From Dugout to Catwalk: Huber’s New Year Turns Heads

Palermo’s Pink Side: Where football meets fashion, nightlife, and whispers from the piazza.

It seems Palermo’s new manager, Jacques Huber, is making headlines off the pitch as well as on it. The 32-year-old French-English coach, whose intensity in the dugout has already caught the eye of Serie B, was spotted last weekend not in training gear, but in a tailored suit at the Palermo Moda showcase – the city’s biggest winter fashion event.

The timing couldn’t have been more convenient. With Palermo on a short break in fixtures, Huber has found room in his schedule to sample the city’s nightlife and high society. That freedom has set tongues wagging.

Local model Alessia Todaro, one of the event’s standout faces, has already been linked to the coach. Earlier this month, she and Huber were spotted dining at Lumia Restaurant, their quiet corner table anything but discreet. “They weren’t hiding,” one diner recalled. “It didn’t look like football business.”

But at the showcase itself, it was designer Claudia Costa who drew attention. Seated next to Huber in the front row, the pair laughed easily, leaned close, and, according to more than one observer, seemed “a little too cosy” as the show unfolded. Costa, whose bold collection won rave reviews, seemed just as comfortable with Palermo’s new boss as Todaro had been weeks earlier. It didn’t look like just fashion talk either.

“Dinner with a model, cosy with a designer. Palermo’s boss is already stealing headlines off the pitch.”

Next Up: Back to business, Palermo return from the break as title runaways. Can Huber keep the focus on the pitch, or will the spotlight follow him from the catwalk to Serie B? 

🏟️ 11: Halfway Home — Palermo’s Squad Under the Microscope

📊 Introduction

A short winter break between 27 December and 10 January offers a rare pause in the grind of Serie B. For Palermo, it’s more than a breather, it’s a checkpoint.

Six months into Jacques Huber’s reign, the Rosanero haven’t just climbed to the top, they’ve built an identity that feels unmistakably theirs. Intense pressing, brave possession, and flashes of flair have carried them 15 points clear and into the Coppa Italia quarterfinals. The Renzo Barbera is alive again and, for the first time in years, hope feels more than justified.

But promotion isn’t won in December. The question now is not only whether Palermo can maintain this pace, but whether the squad has the depth, balance, and resilience to carry them through the long months ahead.

This is a closer look at the men in pink: who has stood tall, who has more to give, and where reinforcements might be needed in January.

📑 Team Report

🧤 Goalkeepers

Jesse Joronen (7.14) has firmly established himself as the undisputed No. 1. His shot-stopping and penalty heroics have rescued Palermo on more than one occasion. With ten clean sheets, joint-top in the division, he has been a steady, reliable presence behind a solid back line.

Behind him, Francesco Bardi (N/A) has offered competent backup without ever truly challenging for the shirt. Looking ahead, Palermo may need to think about succession planning: Bardi is already frustrated with his limited role, and there are question marks over how well Joronen will adapt to a higher level. Out on loan at Pescara, young goalkeeper Sebastiano Desplanches (7.11) is staking his claim; he also leads Serie B for clean sheets and could return next season as a genuine contender.

🛡️ Defenders

At the back, Palermo have been solid and consistent. Mattia Bani (7.00) and Pietro Ceccaroni (7.10) have formed the first-choice partnership. Both are asked to step out with the ball and hold a high line in Huber’s system and, while they’ve handled it well, at 32 and 30 there may be a need to look for a younger option in the summer. Neither loanee Davide Veroli (6.87) nor Patryk Peda (N/A) has done enough in limited minutes to truly threaten their places.

Full-backs have been central to Huber’s approach. Niccolò Pierozzi (6.92) and Salim Diakité (6.76) have both impressed at times on the right, often tucking inside as a third centre-back. On the opposite flank Tommaso Augello (6.82), and Pierozzi during his lengthy injury absence, have taken on the challenge of inverting into midfield. Veteran Bartosz Bereszyński (6.92) has offered reliable cover at right-back and done well in his cameos, but at 33 and with limited upside, he is unlikely to be a long-term solution.  The adjustment hasn’t always been seamless, but when it clicks it gives Palermo crucial control in the middle of the pitch.

Depth remains a concern, however. Injuries to the starting full backs have exposed the lack of reliable rotation options, and any viable opportunities in the January market will be closely monitored.

⚙️ Midfielders

If the defence has been about stability, the midfield has been the beating heart of Huber’s Palermo. Claudio Gomes (6.96) anchors the trio, with Alexis Blin (6.72) providing capable back-up, breaking up play and giving others a platform to shine when called upon.

Ahead of them, three players have shared the two advanced roles. Filippo Ranocchia (7.14), Jacopo Segre (7.05), and Antonio Palumbo (7.14) have all emerged as crucial pressers and the legs of the team, while still contributing decisively in the final third. Their freedom to drift into half-spaces and run beyond the striker has been vital to Palermo’s attacking rhythm. Ranocchia has 5 assists and 2 goals, Segre 2 assists and 4 goals, and Palumbo an outstanding 6 assists and 5 goals.

Rotation options Valerio Verre (6.81) and Samuel Giovane (6.90) have also ensured the intensity rarely drops, offering fresh energy and flexibility whenever Huber turns to his bench.

🎯 Attackers

Goals win promotion, and in this department, Palermo have been well served. Stefanos Tzimas (7.60), the talismanic on-loan No. 9, leads the line with strength and composure, scoring an astonishing 22 goals in 21 games. 

On the flanks, Yeremay (7.05) has tormented defences with his direct dribbling and creativity, while Jérémy Le Douaron (6.83) and Emmanuel Gyasi (7.26) have rotated effectively, offering different qualities depending on the game. Between them, the wide players have contributed a healthy spread of goals and assists.

The strength of this unit also lies in its depth. Beyond the first-choice trio, club captain Matteo Brunori (6.90) has chipped in with a couple of important goals, while Seydou Fini (7.12) has shown flashes of real quality, registering 4 assists from 1 start and 10 substitute appearances. Young Palermo-born striker Salvatore Di Mitri (6.80) has also made three cameos from the bench and is still waiting for his first senior goal.

🌱 Training & Development

Stefanos Tzimas has been a central pillar of Huber’s project, and already there are clear signs of progress. In recent weeks his dribbling, off-the-ball movement, and anticipation have all notably improved. There is genuine intent, should the money be available after promotion, to try and make his move permanent.

Since stepping up to first-team training, Salvatore Di Mitri has made some physical gains, but his slower technical development raises questions about his long-term fit in this side. Reports from the academy, however, suggest there may soon be another homegrown forward emerging on the horizon.

📈 Recruitment Focus — January

The January window may not look decisive at first glance, as Palermo don’t need wholesale changes. However, with interest growing in several key performers and a few unhappy squad players, some smart business may still be required.

• Defensive depth: Centre-back cover is thin, and a single major injury could destabilise the back line. Any viable options in this area will be monitored closely.
• Future planning: A young goalkeeper or creative playmaker would fit neatly with the long-term aims of the project and could be targeted if the right profile becomes available.

📝 Closing Thoughts

Half a season into the project, Palermo are not just where Huber hoped they would be – they are far beyond it. Top of Serie B by 15 points, into the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, and playing with a clear, aggressive identity, this side already looks every bit a Serie A outfit in waiting. The dressing room is united, the ideas are understood, and the city has reawakened to the dream of big nights in pink.

Yet the job is not finished. Injuries, AFCON absences and the weight of expectation will test this group in ways the autumn never could, and January’s decisions will shape how strong Palermo look when they finally step up a level.

For now, though, the story is one of resurgence. Palermo are not just back in the conversation, they are setting the pace.

Next Up: Sicilia Gossip, away from tactics and transfers, the turn of the year brings a different kind of headline. Jacques Huber steps into the city’s nightlife and fashion scene, but is it all harmless fun, or the start of a new story off the pitch?

⚽ 10: Back to the Pitch

With the introductions, the press conferences, and the first tastes of Sicilian life behind us, Palermo’s season rolls into its next phase. Every week brings a new test, every dropped point feels costly. For Jacques Huber and his squad, maintaining the momentum before a short winter break is everything.

🎯 Match Results

Matchday 11 — Palermo 4–1 Pescara (H) 
The Renzo Barbera roared into life as Palermo carved out another strong performance. Tzimas opened the scoring with a neat finish in the 17th minute before adding another at the 42nd. Shortly before half time, Gyasi (45+2’) extended the lead to three goals. In the second half Brunori added a fourth to secure a comfortable three points.

Matchday 12 — Juve Stabia 0–5 Palermo (A)
Palermo produced their biggest win under Huber with a ruthless display away at Juve Stabia. They flew out of the blocks, with Tzimas finishing coolly on 8 minutes before Palumbo doubled the lead on 12’ to silence the home crowd. A late flurry turned a dominant performance into a demolition: Tzimas grabbed his second on 82’, Segre added a fourth on 84’, and Le Douaron swept home two minutes later to complete the rout. Huber’s team are on a march, and right now it feels like nothing can stop them.

Matchday 13 — Virtus Entella 2–3 Palermo (A)
In front of a tight crowd in Chiavari, Palermo had to grind for all three points. Tzimas opened the scoring on 30 minutes, but Virtus Entella hit back just before the break through Flavio Russo on 43’. Any momentum for the hosts, however, was instantly snatched away when Yeremay (44’) restored Palermo’s lead a minute later. The game swung again on 66’, as Virtus Entella levelled to make it 2–2 and set up a nervy finale. Huber’s side, however, refused to let their unbeaten run slip. Ten minutes from time, pressure from a Palermo cross forced Tommaso Del Lungo into turning the ball into his own net, sealing a hard-fought away win for the league leaders.

Matchday 14 — Palermo 0–1 Carrarese (H)
Huber’s unbeaten Palermo finally came unstuck at the Renzo Barbera in a frustrating first defeat of the season. Palermo created the better chances and spent long spells camped in Carrarese’s half, but a mix of wasteful finishing and tired legs after a gruelling run of fixtures kept the scoreline level. The punishment came late: in the 87th minute, Julián Illanes rose highest from a set piece to nod home the winner. A flat, fatigued Palermo were left to reflect on missed opportunities and the end of Huber’s remarkable unbeaten start.

Coppa Italia — Roma 1–1 Palermo (Palermo win 5–4 on pens) (A)
Four days after their first defeat under Huber, Palermo produced a heroic Coppa Italia upset away to high-flying Roma, who currently sit fourth in Serie A. Huber set his side up deeper than usual, looking to absorb pressure and break on the counter. The plan led to an incredibly cagey first half, with chances at a premium; Dovbyk came closest, rattling the bar just before the interval.

Roma finally broke through on 63 minutes, when Matías Soulé arrived in the box to guide a low cross past Joronen. Chasing the game, Palermo pushed higher and pressed more aggressively but struggled to carve out any clear openings until the 90+3rd minute. Seydou Fini whipped in a desperate late cross and club captain Matteo Brunori stole in to prod home an equaliser that silenced the Olimpico and took the tie straight to penalties.

Both sides scored their first spot-kicks, before Joronen denied Baldanzi to hand Palermo the advantage, and then Gyasi coolly converted to make it 2–1 in the shootout. Roma scored their next three and Palermo their next two, leaving centre-back Mattia Bani with a fifth penalty to win it—only for his effort to be saved and sudden death to beckon. Joronen then produced another huge stop, saving Roma’s sixth penalty from Daniele Ghilardi, and fellow centre-back Pietro Ceccaroni stepped up to smash home the winner.

Palermo advanced 5–4 on penalties and, remarkably for a Serie B side, booked their place in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals, marking one of the defining nights of Huber’s reign so far.

Matchday 15 — Empoli 0–1 Palermo (A)
Back to league business after their Coppa Italia heroics, Palermo ground out a professional, if unspectacular, win away at Empoli. The hosts sat deep in a back five and allowed Huber’s side over 70% of the ball, but their low block made chances hard to come by. The decisive moment came on 21 minutes, when Gyasi’s shot took a deflection and wrong-footed the goalkeeper to put Palermo in front. It was far from a vintage performance, yet Huber’s men managed the game well and saw out a scrappy 1–0 victory.

Matchday 16 — Palermo 3–0 Sampdoria (H)
A chaotic first half handed Palermo complete control. Sampdoria went down to ten men on 32 minutes when Ioannou was sent off for a nasty tackle on Fini, and things unravelled further in stoppage time: Tzimas made it 1–0 on 45+3’, before Ferrari saw red for another horror challenge on Gyasi a minute later. With a two-man advantage, Palermo dominated after the break. Gyasi smashed in a brilliant long-range strike on 51’, and Ranocchia, returning from injury, added a third on 81’. Sampdoria failed to record a shot on target as Huber’s side cruised to a routine win.

Matchday 17 — Avellino 1912 0–3 Palermo (A)
Even without Gomes and Gyasi, now away at AFCON, Palermo kept their momentum rolling in Avellino. Tzimas struck after just four minutes to settle any nerves, finishing a move that set the tone for a controlled away display. In the second half, Seydou Fini took over as chief creator, first cutting back for Valerio Verre to make it 2–0 on 76’, then whipping in another cross for Tzimas to slot home his second on 85’. A comfortable 3–0 win, and further proof Huber’s side can cope without key absentees.

Matchday 18 — Palermo 1–0 Padova (H)
Palermo dominated the first half but were repeatedly let down by their finishing in a one-sided contest at the Renzo Barbera. The breakthrough finally came on 59 minutes, when Antonio Palumbo volleyed home from inside the area to give Huber’s side a deserved lead. Padova failed to register a shot on target as Palermo saw out a controlled 1–0 victory in their final game before a short two-week New Year break.

📊 League Table Snapshot

As Serie B approaches the halfway point and Palermo’s season pauses for a short winter break, Huber’s side sit top of the table, well clear of the chasing pack. The gap has stretched to an astonishing 15 points, with only Venezia, who have a game in hand, offering any real pursuit. At this stage, the title and promotion feel less a question of if and more a matter of when.

📰 Press Round-Up

La Gazzetta dello Sport:
“Huber’s Palermo are no longer just a pleasant surprise. They’re a machine. High pressing, ruthless transitions, and a clarity of ideas rarely seen in Serie B. With a 15-point gap at the top and a place in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, the only real question now is not if they will reach Serie A, but how far this project can go once they get there.”

Corriere dello Sport:
“Consistency was supposed to be the challenge, yet Palermo have turned it into their greatest weapon. One defeat all season, a relentless defensive record, and the ability to grind out 1–0s when the legs are heavy. AFCON absences and a crowded calendar will test them, but Huber has built a squad that believes, and plays, like champions in waiting.”

Giornale di Sicilia:
“The city is living this season as a rebirth. Renzo Barbera is filling up again, children wear pink shirts in the streets, and every matchday feels like a festival. Palermo are not just leading the table; they are restoring pride to a club and a city that for too long have watched others take the spotlight.”

Voce Rosanero (Ultras spokesperson):
“Huber understands us. He talks about Sicily and about respect for the shirt. You can see it in the way the team presses in the 90th minute, even when they’re already ahead. Promotion is almost there, but for us it’s more than that. It’s feeling that these players are finally fighting for our colours every week. If he keeps going like this, Huber will be one of us forever.”

Next Up: Half-Way Home, with January upon us, it’s time to pause and reflect. How has Huber’s Palermo squad taken shape? Which signings have stood out, which youngsters are pushing through, and what lies ahead in the second half of the season? A full mid-season assessment awaits.

🥩 9: Late Dinner at Seidita Steakhouse

The sizzle of steak on hot plates cut through the hum of Seidita Steakhouse. It was close to midnight, but Palermo thrived on late hours. Families lingered over wine, waiters moved briskly between tables, and the air was thick with the smell of grilled meat.

At a long corner table, Jacques Huber raised his glass. Around him sat his closest staff: Tobi Okori, still hunched over a glowing tablet; Adam Fairclough, ribeye in hand and laughing loudly; Samir Halimi, sipping red wine; and Patrick Sullivan, sneaking glances at his phone’s fitness and calorie tracker.

They weren’t alone tonight. Two of the Italian coaches had joined them. Salvatore Foti the grizzled striker with stories of Palermo from his youth, the other, Roberto Sechi, the promising coach from Naples, who doubled as the group’s unofficial translator. Between the English, French, and hesitant Italian, the table was a jumble of languages, but laughter carried across the plates easily enough.

Samir groaned, catching sight of Tobi’s screen. “Passing maps? At midnight? You’re addicted.”

Tobi didn’t look up. “Look, the left side was fading after 70 minutes. It’s why we conceded against Catanzaro.”

Jacques smirked. “Keep bringing analysis to the dinner table and the club might have to start paying you more.”

That got a laugh from the locals, and Tobi finally closed the tablet. “That would be nice. My wife’s sorting schools back home. Another month, and I’ll be out of the Bunker and in my own place.”

“About time,” Samir grinned. “Then maybe I’ll get the big bedroom.”

Adam leaned back, amused. “Don’t let him fool you. Tobi’s the type to sneak back just for the arguments. He won’t survive in a quiet house.” 

Conversation drifted. Fairclough mentioned how his daughter was already learning Italian faster than him. “She orders gelato like a Sicilian. I still point at the menu.” At the other end of the table, the Italians teased Patrick Sullivan for his endless gym sessions, insisting he’d see more of Palermo if he learned where to buy proper cannoli.

When the waiter came by to refill their glasses, Jacques tried a line in halting Italian. The pronunciation was clumsy, but it earned him a grin and a warm “piano piano, Mister Huber” – slowly, slowly.

Samir raised his glass. “Soon you’ll be giving press conferences in Italian. God help the translators.”

The table erupted in laughter, the kind of tired, easy laughter of men who had shared too many hours together and somehow still wanted more.

For one night, the steaks and the wine outshone the tactics. Tomorrow, the video clips would return. But tonight was about Palermo, about roots being laid and about a staff finding common ground. Foreigners and locals, slowly becoming a family in the city they had come to change.

Next Up: Back to the pitch, with the autumn fixtures piling up, Palermo face a crucial run in Serie B. Can Huber’s side continue turning late nights of steak, wine, and debate into results that matter?