Palermo are striving to keep their feet on the ground after beating AC Milan 2-0 at the San Siro Stadium Sunday evening to take a share of the Serie A top spot.
With Juventus in Serie B and Milan harbouring an eight-point handicap because of the Calciopoli referee-rigging scandal, some pundits believe the Sicilians are real title contenders. But the club are playing their chances down. "We are proud to be top after seven games and to have won at the San Siro, something that does not happen every day," said Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin. "But that is all, it stops there".
Chairman Maurizio Zamparini was even more emphatic: "I'm not kidding myself, I keep saying that our real aim is to finish fourth (to qualify for the Champions League). "Naturally it is nice to be top. But I haven't forgotten that we lost at Empoli and at home against Atalanta. "When we avoid defeats like those and continue to pull off results like this one at the San Siro, then we will
really be able to consider ourselves a great side".
The loss plunged Milan further into crisis, extending a Serie A winless run to four games. It was the six-time European champions' first home defeat in the Italian championship since May 2005. Milan are 14th in the standings with four points. "It is a difficult period for us, it's no good trying to hide it," said Milan's Brazil playmaker Kaka.
"We still believe we can win the scudetto, but we are worried about the period we are going through". Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti stayed optimistic, insisting his men will have the chance to make up for things Wednesday at Chievo Verona and then at the weekend in the derby against Inter.
Palermo share the lead with Inter, who drew 0-0 with Udinese (4th). Both sides have 15 points from seven games. Inter travelled to Udine without troubled Brazil forward Adriano, who has been granted a period of leave to regain physical and psychological shape.
The striker, who has returned to his homeland, is in the doldrums because of goal-less spell with Inter that has lasted over 200 days. Inter boss Roberto Mancini said he hoped to have Adriano back before Christmas, which dispelled speculation that the
break will be short.
AS Roma (3rd) could do no better than a 1-1 draw at home against lowly Chievo Verona (17th) and missed an opportunity to join Inter and Palermo at the league summit. Atalanta came from two goals down to beat Sampdoria (11th) 3-2 and climb up to fifth.
The Tuscan derby between Livorno (6th) and Siena (7th) ended goalless. Catania (10th) beat Lazio (18th) 3-2, while Parma (15th) ended a 10-match winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Ascoli (16th).
Fiorentina (19th) moved off the bottom by thrashing Reggina (20th) 3-0.
On Saturday evening Cagliari (13th) drew 0-0 with Torino (12th) and Messina (9th) tied 2-2 with Empoli (8th).
