Juventus underlined their credentials as hot favourites to land the Serie A title a sixth time in succession following their win over Torino in the derby last weekend.

At the wrong side of the table, however, things are turning from bad to worse for Palermo, Pescara, Crotone and Empoli and unless they embark on a remarkable turnaround in the second half of the campaign, three of them will be condemned to the Serie B.

Bottom side Palermo are struggling badly, managing only six points from their first 16 outings. The Sicilians have lost all their games except for identical 1-1 away draws at Inter, Crotone and Sampdoria and a 1-0 away win at Atalanta.

Sunday’s 0-2 reverse at home to Chievo marked Palermo’s ninth defeat in a row. The draw at Sampdoria’s Luigi Ferraris stadium, on October 2, was their most recent positive result in the league.

Lack of consistency and stability are again hurting Palermo’s game.

They started the season under the charge of Davide Ballardini. However, he handed his resignation after only two matches and in came relative novice Roberto De Zerbi.

But under the ex-Foggia mentor, Palermo continued to misfire badly. And, late last month, De Zerbi was fired in the wake of the shock elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Serie B outfit Spezia.

Eugenio Corini... tough job to save troubled Palermo.

Eugenio Corini, himself a Palermo player and captain between 2003 and 2007, is now coaching the side but so far there was no change in fortunes as a last-gasp defeat to Fiorentina and Sunday’s 2-0 upset to Chievo followed after his appointment.

Palermo’s precarious position seems to vindicate Ballardini’s decision to abandon ship as it seems clear that the Sicilians, yet to record their first point at home this season, are too weak to survive and escape the dreaded drop come May.

Palermo barely made it last term as they made sure of safety only on the final day of the Serie A.

But, instead of reinforcing an already weak squad that struggled in no small way to keep its head above waters, club supremo Maurizio Zamparini offloaded the old guard (goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino, midfielder Enzo Maresca and striker Alberto Gilardino) and arguably the side’s best player Franco Vazquez (Sevilla).

His new signings were mostly unknown foreigners and a couple of seasoned Italians (Alessandro Gazzi and Alessandro Diamanti) who are well past their best.

Perhaps Palermo’s best signing in summer was Macedonia striker Ilija Nestorovski, who scored seven goals in the league.

Pescara and Crotone, who won promotion from Serie B last season, are also travelling in circles.

Crotone, who have nine points, and Pescara, eight, clashed on Saturday. Victory went to Davide Nicola’s Crotone (2-1) to leapfrog Pescara to the third-bottom place, just two points adrift of Empoli.

It is worth noting that on the field, Massimo Oddo’s Pescara have so far attained five draws as their only win was awarded to them on the table and at Sassuolo’s expense.

Empoli have been struggling from the start. With only seven goals in favour, they have the poorest scoring record in the division.

Although Giovanni Martusciello’s side are much more equipped than Palermo, Pescara and Crotone, they are failing to deliver the goods, something done so efficiently when the side was managed by Maurizio Sarri and Marco Giampaolo.

Luckily for the relegation strugglers, the January transfer window is just a few days away.

That will be the right moment for them to bolster their squads and re-launch the bids to save their status in the Italian top flight.