Catanzaro vs Palermo Prediction

Right then, let's have a proper look at this Serie B scrap down in Calabria. Catanzaro welcome Palermo, and blimey, what a tale of two teams we've got here.

The home side are having a right old time of it - they're the only team in the bottom half without a win this season. Eight games played, six draws, two losses. That's zero wins, mate. They're drawing for fun like they're playing for points, but three points just won't come. At home, it's even worse - 75% draws and 25% losses. They recently lost 0-1 to Padova at home and got beaten 1-2 by Monza away. The goals are drying up too, averaging just 0.8 per game.

Palermo, on the other hand, are living the dream up in 2nd place. Unbeaten all season with four wins and four draws. They're solid as a rock at the back, letting in just 0.6 goals per game and keeping clean sheets in half their matches. They went to Spezia and won 2-1, stuck two past Bari, and even held league leaders Modena to a 1-1 draw. That's proper form, that is.

Now, you might look at the head-to-head and think Catanzaro have the edge historically (4 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss), but at home it's a different story - they've only won 20% of home meetings against Palermo. Last time these two met, Palermo walked away with a 3-1 win.

The stats don't lie here. Palermo are scoring more, conceding less, and actually winning games. Catanzaro are stuck in draw-ville and can't seem to find that winning formula. The home side might make it tricky with their draw-happy approach, but quality tends to tell in the end.

Key Points:

• Catanzaro are winless in 8 league games this season (0 wins, 6 draws, 2 losses)

• Palermo are unbeaten and sitting pretty in 2nd place (4 wins, 4 draws, 0 losses)

• Palermo have kept 5 clean sheets in 10 games compared to Catanzaro's 2

• Catanzaro have drawn 75% of their home games but haven't won any

• Palermo average 1.1 goals scored vs Catanzaro's 0.8

• Last meeting ended 3-1 to Palermo

Sometimes the numbers just scream at you, and this is one of those times. Palermo are flying, Catanzaro are floundering. The away side at 2.20 looks decent value to me - they're the better team, in better form, and actually know how to win games of football.