Serie B round-up: Palermo need U-turn, Italian talent shines | OneFootball

Richard Hall analyses the latest big stories in Serie B, including under-pressure Palermo and the rise of Francesco Pio Esposito.

Is something happening in Palermo?

If you take a moment to peruse the Serie B, other than dreams of yesteryear or a visit to the Sicilian capital, there is no reason to look at Palermo. If you watched the 2-2 draw with Mantova this weekend, you might be inclined to lean with some of the discontent shown within the overall raucous Stadio Renzo Barbera. A man was sent off, and some comical defending was only eased by a superlative strike from Valerio Verre and the first goal for his new campaign from Joel Pohjanpaolo.

The Rosanero hired Alessio Dionisi as head coach in June 2024, but the ex-Sassuolo boss hasn’t won a game from the last four, collecting just two points and leaving the team in ninth place, two points below a playoff spot.

The club signed some big names in the January window, so they expect a quick U-turn starting with the upcoming away game at Cosenza, where a defeat could cost Dionisi the job.

Palermo have taken on Finnish Capocannoniere, Pohjanpaolo, who netted 22 times for Venezia last campaign. He is now off the mark, and what is more, they have cemented up their backline. Emil Audero has joined on loan in goal from Como1907, a very clever move that will pay dividends and they have brought in Giangiacomo Magnani from Hellas Verona to stabilise the back line. Will it be enough?

LATINA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Francesco Pio Esposito of Italy U21 and Inter scores the team’s third goal during 2025 Under 21 EURO Qualifying Group A match between Italy and San Marino at Stadio Domenico Francioni on September 05, 2024 in Latina, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Francesco Pio Esposito

One of three brothers from Castellammare di Stabia near Naples, Francesco, is making a name for himself in Spezia. The younger brother of Salvatore (also at Spezia) and Sebastiano (on loan at Empoli), he has a strong footballing family. Sebastiano and Francesco are both products of the Inter Primavera, and when the Nerazzurri assess their options next season regarding who to bring back, it may be young Francesco who gets the nod. He has been in superb form this season, and according to more than one Italian news outlet, he is being watched by Torino and Napoli.

The 19-year-old has 13 goals to his name already this campaign, and with Spezia sitting in third place in the table, in the best run of form and with the least losses in the division, he may get to Serie A with the ‘Aquile’ rather than waiting for a bid. The team from Liguria are surely already getting used to the fact that they will have to let him return to Milan, but his impact has been noted.

Ironically, this will be another player Inter lets slip through their fingers, but they should not. At 6ft 2”, he is quick and remarkably good in the air and with the ball at his feet. However, it is his rhythmic ability to finish in the box with one or two touches with such composure that makes him a different kind of striker than the Nerazzurri or the Azzurri have already. Expect big things from this very mature young man.

Welcome Paolo Bianco

Poor Frosinone, it was always going to happen. Another day, another problem and now, another coach. “Frosinone Calcio announces that it has entrusted Paolo Bianco with the role of coach responsible for the First Team. The coach, a native of Foggia, has signed an agreement that will bind him to the Giallazzurro Club until June 30, 2025.” These were the words on the Lega B website from Frosinone as the club tried to save their terrible season.

At present, they sit in 19th place in the table with 23 points. This is not an impossible situation to get out of but they show no signs of doing so. Yes, the defeat to Bari away in the San Nicola (2-1) had no shame in it but the loss to Sud Tirol (0-3 at home) certainly did. They are on a dangerous slide and changing the coach was the last resort.

Called ‘the last hope for salvation’ by the Italian press, Frosinone restarted with Paolo Bianco, the last desperate move of the club to avoid the abyss of C. It will be the former Modena coach and former collaborator of De Zerbi at Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk who has been tasked with attempting the miracle in the land of Ciociaria. In essence, he will have to try to bring the team out of the nightmare of relegation. A fearful task, but not impossible either. It is worth watching to see if he can change the clubs’ fortunes.

@RichHall80