Gold victory for Palermo: Padova defeated in recovery

It was mandatory to win. To return to smiling after a negative week and especially to get back in touch with the top two positions, taking advantage of the direct clash between Monza and Venezia. This was the imperative dictated by Pippo Inzaghi on the eve of the match in Padova, the last game before the much-anticipated final international break of the season.

The Palermo managed to do it against all odds: especially against the incident that after just 25 minutes saw the sending off of Rui Modesto for a bad tackle on former rosanero Francesco Di Mariano. An unexpected, hard-fought, crucial victory.

Anticipation and study in the first minutes, with the home team careful not to open lethal spaces for the counterattacks of Palermo. Rosanero in control but not very dangerous. At least until the quarter-hour mark, when from a corner kick Rui Modesto attempts a long-range shot, narrowly missing the target. Inzaghi's team takes the measure of the opponent and continues to push well, coming close to scoring again with Johnsen served by Ranocchia.

Then the incident that disrupts the balance of the match: at 25' Padova breaks away on the counterattack with Di Mariano being brought down by a killer tackle from Rui Modesto. Marinelli initially shows a yellow card, then is called to the VAR and decides on the red card for the rosanero winger.

The script of the game changes: the home team takes advantage of the superiority to more easily build their offensive plays, while the rosanero can only contain to hold the 0-0 score until halftime.

In the second half, Inzaghi tries to reorganize Palermo: Peda comes in, Palumbo goes out. But the game’s dynamics do not change: Padova dominates the field and comes close to taking the lead with Di Mariano. The Venetians find the opening goal at 56' with Perrotta, but it is disallowed for offside. At 58', to the applause of the Euganeo, Papu Gomez returns to the field, absent since early February due to an ankle injury.

But the balance does not change and the match drifts without great emotions until 92', when from a corner Palermo finds the incredible winning goal scored by Mattia Bani.

For the rosanero, these are three points of vital importance: Palermo pulls ahead of Catanzaro, defeated in Cesena, and while waiting for the other matches, closes in on the top positions.