Palermo go into Sicily derby on a high

Surprise Serie A leaders Palermo, fresh from their victory over Milan, take on Messina in a Sicilian derby today with coach Francesco Guidolin refusing to consider his team title contenders.

Five wins from their opening seven games have catapulted Palermo to 15 points, level with title holders Inter at the top of the table.

"This is a real achievement but I don't want to hear any talk about the 'scudetto'," said Guidolin after goals from Australian Mark Bresciano and Brazilian Amauri at the San Siro handed Milan their first defeat of the campaign.

A full house is expected at Palermo's "Favorita" stadium tonight for the game with mid-table Messina. Palermo won their other local derby, against Catania, 5-3 last month.

The result left Milan, who began the season with a minus eight-point penalty imposed by a sports tribunal investigating match-fixing allegations, in the bottom half of the table on four points, 11 behind city rivals Inter who they face in the Milan derby on Saturday.

Before that game Milan face a tricky trip to Chievo who have been boosted by the return of coach Luigi Del Neri. Chievo earned a 1-1 draw away to Roma on Sunday.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti conceded that the main problem his side has is in the goals department where the side have struggled since the sale of Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea.

Ancelotti's side have managed just six goals in seven games this season - 10 less than Palermo.

"We have to resolve the problems in attack because the league table is starting to get tough for us. We are creating a lot of chances but we aren't able to put them away even though we are dominating games," said Ancelotti.

Inter, who gave up sole command of the top spot in the Serie A after being held to a goalless draw at Udinese, are at home to Livorno today.

Roma, meanwhile, will expect to get back to winning ways at home to winless Ascoli.

Next fixtures

Saturday
Udinese vs Roma 6 p.m.
Milan vs Inter 8.30 p.m.

Sunday
3 p.m.
Ascoli vs Siena
Cagliari vs Sampdoria
Catania vs Torino
Fiorentina vs Palermo
Lazio vs Reggina
Livorno vs Empoli 8.30 p.m.
Messina vs Chievo
Parma vs Atalanta