Palermo vs AC Milan preview - Allegri urges caution

Posted Saturday, March 19, 2011 by PA

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has warned his players not to underestimate strugglers Palermo when the two sides square off at La Favorita.

Palermo go into the encounter against the Serie A leaders on the back of five straight defeats.

However, Milan's last league victory at Palermo was in February 2006.

Allegri said: "Saturday's game is important.

"We face a very difficult game because Palermo has great technical qualities in midfield and in attack.

"You have the likes of (Fabrizio) Miccoli, (Javier) Pastore, (Abel) Hernandez.

"Our rivals have lost their last five league games and that means we will have to be even more careful."

Milan missed a chance to extend their lead at the top of the standings last weekend when being held to a 1-1 draw by bottom side Bari - Inter had drawn their match at Brescia.

However, Allegri has focused on the positives.

He said: "We are still favourites for the scudetto.

"We have a five point advantage on Inter with nine games to go.

"It may not seem much but it's an important gap."

Last weekend's result was not the only setback for Milan as Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off for hitting out at Bari defender Marco Rossi and will have to serve his first of a three-match ban.

"It was an excessive ban," Allegri said. "But we will have to wait and see how the appeal goes.

"In any case, we have Alexandre Pato and Antonio Cassano and they can do well."

Fortunately for Milan, Palermo are struggling in every department and go into the encounter on the back of five straight losses.

Palermo have not won since February 2 and last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Genoa dropped Serse Cosmi's side to ninth in the standings.

The Sicilian giants have failed to find the back of the net in their last four league games while giving away 11 goals in as many games.

"Milan is a team made of champions," Palermo playmaker Javier Pastore said.

"But we have to focus on ourselves and what is important is that we improve and return to be the team we once were."