SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2016 SPANISH LEAGUE PREVIEW ITALIAN LEAGUE PREVIEW Real Madrid eye record Relegation fears turn focus on a trigger-happy Palermo MADRID: Real Madrid can set a club Barcelona can cut the gap to three points record by extending their unbeaten run before Madrid kick-off with victory at rock MILAN: Jokes about Maurizio Zamparini’s noto- played the reserves.” De Zerbi, according to to 35 games when Deportivo la Coruna bottom Osasuna earlier today. After the riously twitchy trigger finger abound, but the reports, is now attempting to sue Zamparini for visit the Santiago Bernabeu today. blow of conceding a last minute equalizer prospect of relegation for Palermo has switched refusing to honour the pledge of a sizeable pay- Deportivo’s last visit to Real was Zinedine to Madrid in last weekend’s El Clasico, the focus on the Serie A club owner’s penchant off in the event of his sacking. But Zamparini, Zidane’s first match in charge back in Barca got back to winning ways with a for sacking coaches. Barely 15 games into the who once labelled English clubs “pirates” for January and the 5-0 thrashing of the morale boosting 4-0 thrashing of Borussia season Palermo are on their third coach after allegedly pillaging young players before they Galicians was a sign of things to come in Moenchengla dbach on Tuesday. Zamparini appointed Eugenio Corini last week had a chance to sign professional contracts, a dream debut year for the Frenchman as Crucially the returning Andres Iniesta has to replace Roberto De Zerbi, who succeeded retaliated in clinical fashion. “I’m sure he did it to a senior coach. Madrid haven’t tasted starred in his first two appearances after a Davide Ballardini only two weeks into the cam- get sacked,” Zamparini said of De Zerbi’s team defeat since April, winning the six-week injury layoff over the past paign. Zamparini, a 75-year-old businessman selection for Palermo’s doomed Cup tie. “So I Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and week.With their captain restored, the from Udine, is so notorious in Italy that Twitter will seek termination of his contract for gross opening up a six-point La Liga lead over Catalans looked like the Barca of old by pranksters quipped this week he was to blame misconduct.” Barcelona in the process. “You have to registering a competition record 993 for the downfall of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Corini, a former Palermo captain who helped congratulate the players,” insisted passes against the Germans in midweek. who resigned following a referendum vote. the Sicilians to the Serie B title in 2004, was Zidane humbly after Madrid had to settle “The most important thing is that the They posted a picture of a serious-looking hired thanks to him helping turn Chievo’s for- for qualifying for the last 16 of the team continues to believe in what it does Zamparini with the message: “It’s not true that tunes around in one of his first coaching spells, Champions League in second place and how it does it,” said Iniesta. Renzi resigned. although Zamparini admitted only he and behind Borussia Dortmund on “I am convinced we will get to the Wednesday. final months of the season in the hunt for Zamparini sacked him.” For the man who was Ballardini were “on the market”. “They are the ones that are on the all the trophies.” Neymar is suspended so so unhappy with his team in 2003 he threatened The 46-year-old Corini was seconds away pitch, that have to fight and run.” Los Arda Turan is expected to deputize to castrate the players and use their testicles as from beginning his spell in charge by ending Blancos will be looking for the perfect alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in toppings in his salad, even sacking Renzi is Palermo’s streak of defeats, until Fiorentina end to their La Liga campaign for 2016 as attack after netting a hat-trick against beyond his reach. But 13 years on from that striker Khouma Babacar headed a last-gasp goal they head for the Club World Cup in Moenchengladbach. Sevilla were the one threat, Palermo, a club that developed stars like to secure a 2-1 win on Monday. Palermo host Japan on Sunday. However, Deportivo Spanish side not assured of their place in Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Javier Pastore (Paris Chievo tomorrow, but on the day of his appoint- have also been buoyed by a surprise 5-1 the Champions League last 16 before Saint Germain) and Paulo Dybala (Juventus), are ment Corini, unsurprisingly, admitted his six- romp over high-flying Real Sociedad on this week, but ground out a 0-0 draw at no closer to lifting a trophy. month deal is purely performance-related. “I Monday to register a first league win Lyon to progress. In 2011 a Palermo side led by Delio Rossi beat have a contract until the end of the season, and since early October and move out of the However, struggles on the road have Parma and AC Milan on their way to the Italian I will only have an extension if we survive (rele- relegation zone in the process. been a common theme for Jorge Cup final at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, where an gation),” he said. “I wouldn’t have it any other “I am always optimistic and I am going Sampaoli’s men as despite lying third in estimated 40,000-50,000 Sicilians travelled from way.” — AFP there with the hope of getting something La Liga, seven points adrift of Real, they all over Italy to see holders Inter Milan win 3-1. from the game,” said Deportivo boss have won just four of their 12 away Amazingly, their Cup run saw Zamparini sack Gaizka Garitano. “We are in the more des- games this season. The Europa League Rossi following a 7-0 rout by Udinese in Italian Serie A Table perate situation and we are not going to holders will be keen to make amends for February, only to recall him a month later when the Bernabeu just to make up the num- a shock 2-1 defeat at Granada last week- his successor, Serse Cosmi, lost the Sicilian derby Italian Serie A table ahead of weekend bers.” Madrid are at full strength bar the end and maintain a two-point lead over against Catania. Months before then, Zamparini games (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, absence of Gareth Bale. Toni Kroos and Atletico Madrid when they travel to Celta had even blasted Rossi for having “no balls” after goals against, points): Alvaro Morata made their return from Vigo on Sunday. Atletico aren’t in action a 1-1 draw with 10-man Bari. Corini, hopefully, injury in the 2-2 with Dortmund in mid- until Monday when they visit sixth- has read the small print in his contract. Juventus 15 12 0 3 32 13 36 week and are likely to feature once more, placed Villarreal in a crucial clash in the Roma 15 10 2 3 35 16 32 whilst Mateo Kovacic could be recalled fight to qualify for next season’s ‘36 coaches since 2002’ AC Milan 15 10 2 3 27 19 32 after being rested on Wednesday. Champions League. — AFP By rough estimates he is the 36th appoint- Napoli 15 8 4 3 27 15 28 ment to be made since Zamparini took control Lazio 15 8 4 3 27 16 28 in 2002, a tally which includes the coaches, such Atalanta 15 9 1 5 24 17 28 Spanish La Liga Table as Francesco Guidolin (four), Ballardini (three) Torino 15 7 4 4 31 19 25 and Giuseppe Iachini (two), who took the helm, Fiorentina 14 6 5 3 22 16 23 Spanish league table before this weekend’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals were sacked and returned for more punishment. Sampdoria 15 6 4 5 19 20 22 for, goals against, points): Although Palermo registered a new club record Inter Milan 15 6 3 6 22 21 21 Real Madrid 14 10 4 0 37 12 34 Malaga 14 5 5 4 23 21 20 of seven consecutive league defeats under De Cagliari 15 6 2 7 23 32 20 Barcelona 14 8 4 2 34 15 28 Espanyol 14 4 7 3 17 17 19 Zerbi, he was sacked following defeat on penal- Genoa 13 5 4 4 17 15 19 Sevilla 14 8 3 3 25 20 27 Alaves 14 4 5 5 14 17 17 ties to Serie B side La Spezia in the fourth round Chievo 14 5 3 6 14 16 18 Sassuolo 15 5 2 8 20 26 17 Atletico Madrid14 7 4 3 28 11 25 Real Betis 14 4 3 7 17 28 15 of the Italian Cup. Bologna 14 4 4 6 14 21 16 Villarreal 14 6 5 3 19 10 23 Leganes 14 4 2 8 11 25 14 “I was forced to sack De Zerbi,” Zamparini Real Sociedad 14 7 2 5 23 19 23 D La Coruna 14 3 4 7 18 24 13 Udinese 14 4 3 7 18 23 15 told Naples-based Radio Kiss Kiss the day after Empoli 15 2 4 9 7 24 10 Athletic Bilbao14 7 2 5 20 17 23 Valencia 14 3 3 8 19 26 12 La Spezia set up a juicy last 16 tie with Napoli. Eibar 14 6 3 5 21 19 21 Sporting Gijon14 3 3 8 15 28 12 Pescara 15 1 5 9 12 27 8 “I’d sent him a message saying not to worry Celta Vigo 14 6 3 5 24 26 21 Granada 14 1 5 8 13 30 8 Crotone 15 1 3 11 12 29 6 Las Palmas 14 5 5 4 25 22 20 Osasuna 14 1 4 9 13 29 7 about the (upcoming) Fiorentina game, and to Palermo 15 1 3 11 11 29 6 focus on rediscovering the team.