2004–05 U.S. Città di Palermo season

U.S. Città di Palermo played the season 2004-05 in the Serie A league. It was the first time Palermo entered the top division since 1973.

Contents

Review and events

See also: Serie A 2004-05

Palermo returned to Serie A in 2004 as Serie B champions. Francesco Guidolin was confirmed at the helm of the rosanero and a number of valuable signings were made in the summer market: among them, Andrea Barzagli, Cristian Zaccardo, Simone Barone (all three then part of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup) and Argentines Mariano González and Ernesto Farías. The team was widely expected to be a candidate for a mid-table place because of the high quality of its roster. All these events provoked a notable excitement among the local fanbase, leading to a sale of over 30,000 season tickets which caused each Stadio Renzo Barbera seat to be assigned to a season ticket holder.

Palermo enjoyed a great start and quickly entered into the race for a UEFA Cup spot, ending the first half of the season in fifth place, only three points behind fourth-placed Inter. For a while the team appeared also capable to fight for a place in the next Champions' League, but failed in do so and Udinese eventually gained the last of the four available spots. Palermo ended in sixth place with 53 points, nine behind Udinese and eight behind fifth-placed Sampdoria. After the final match, Guidolin tended his resignations, and Luigi Delneri was quickly appointed at his place.

In the Coppa Italia tournament, the rosanero reached the round of 16 after having defeated Salernitana 3-2 on aggregate. The return match notably marked the only two goals by Argentine striker Ernesto Farías, who failed to impress in the Italian top league and was sold to River Plate in the January transfer window. In order to replace him, Davide Possanzini was signed by from AlbinoLeffe. Palermo then went on to be defeated 4-1 on aggregate by AC Milan.

2004-05 squad

No. Nat Pos Player Total Serie A Coppa Italia
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Nicola Santoni 5 -9 1 -3 4 -6
84 GK Paolo Comi 0 0 0 0 0 0
99 GK Matteo Guardalben 37 -41 37 -41 0 0
2 DF Cristian Zaccardo 37 2 35 2 2 0
6 DF Christian Terlizzi 19 1 15 1 4 0
11 DF Fabio Grosso 38 1 36 1 2 0
13 DF Pietro Accardi 3 0 1 0 2 0
21 DF Giuseppe Biava 32 0 29 0 3 0
25 DF Kewullay Conteh 15 0 14 0 1 0
43 DF Andrea Barzagli 40 0 37 0 3 0
81 DF Michele Ferri 9 0 7 0 2 0
4 MF Stefano Morrone 27 0 23 0 4 0
5 MF Eugenio Corini 37 0 35 0 2 0
8 MF Simone Barone 38 2 35 2 3 0
10 MF Lamberto Zauli 28 4 27 4 1 0
18 MF Mario Santana 33 3 30 3 3 0
19 MF Mariano González 25 2 21 2 4 0
20 MF Cristian Raimondi 17 0 14 0 3 0
22 MF Massimo Mutarelli 26 1 24 1 2 0
90 MF Franco Brienza 37 11 33 10 4 1
9 FW Luca Toni 36 21 35 20 1 1
14 FW Davide Possanzini 2 0 2 0 0 0
26 FW Pietro Balistreri 3 0 2 0 1 0
Players sold or loaned out during the January transfer market:
30 DF Adriano Pereira da Silva 3 0 1 0 2 0
46 MF Andrea Gasbarroni 9 0 9 0 0 0
7 FW Ernesto Farías 16 2 13 0 3 2

January transfer market bids

In
14 FW Davide Possanzini (from AlbinoLeffe)
Out
30 DF Adriano Pereira da Silva (loaned to Atalanta)
46 MF Andrea Gasbarroni (to Sampdoria)
7 FW Ernesto Farías (to River Plate)

Results

Serie A

Date and time Opponent team Home/Away Result
September 12, 2004 – 15.00 Siena H 1-0
September 18, 2004 – 20.30 Inter A 1-1
September 22, 2004 – 20.30 Fiorentina H 0-0
September 25, 2004 – 20.30 Juventus A 1-1
October 3, 2004 – 15.00 Bologna H 1-0
October 17, 2004 – 15.00 Lecce A 0-2
October 24, 2004 – 15.00 AS Roma A 1-1
October 27, 2004 – 20.30 Livorno H 1-2
October 31, 2004 – 20.30 Udinese A 0-1
November 7, 2004 – 15.00 Parma H 1-1
November 11, 2004 – 20.30 Messina A 0-0
November 14, 2004 – 15.00 Sampdoria H 2-0
November 28, 2004 – 15.00 Brescia A 2-0
December 5, 2004 – 15.00 Atalanta H 1-0
December 12, 2004 – 15.00 Chievo A 1-2
December 19, 2004 – 20.30 Cagliari H 3-0
January 6, 2005 – 15.00 Reggina A 0-1
January 9, 2005 – 20.30 AC Milan H 0-0
January 16, 2005 – 15.00 Lazio A 3-1
January 23, 2005 – 15.00 Siena A 0-0
January 30, 2005 – 20.30 Inter H 0-2
February 2, 2005 – 20.30 Fiorentina A 2-1
February 5, 2005 – 20.30 Juventus H 1-0
February 13, 2005 – 15.00 Bologna A 1-1
February 20, 2005 – 15.00 Lecce H 3-2
February 27, 2005 – 15.00 AS Roma H 2-0
March 6, 2005 – 20.30 Livorno A 2-2
March 13, 2005 – 15.00 Udinese H 1-5
March 20, 2005 – 15.00 Parma A 3-3
April 10, 2005 – 15.00 Messina H 2-1
April 16, 2005 – 20.30 Sampdoria A 0-1
April 20, 2005 – 20.30 Brescia H 3-3
April 24, 2005 – 15.00 Atalanta A 0-1
May 1, 2005 – 20.30 Chievo H 2-2
May 8, 2005 – 15.00 Cagliari A 0-0
May 15, 2005 – 15.00 Reggina H 1-1
May 20, 2005 – 20.30 AC Milan A 3-3
May 29, 2005 – 15.00 Lazio H 3-3

Coppa Italia

Date and time Opponent team Home/Away Result
September 15, 2004 – 20.30 Salernitana A 1-2
September 28, 2004 – 18.00 Salernitana H 2-0
November 20, 2004 – 21.00 AC Milan H 1-2
January 12, 2005 – 21.00 AC Milan A 0-2
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