After 9 coaching changes, Palermo can avoid relegation

ROME (AP) - In a turbulent season featuring nine coaching changes, Palermo has a chance to avoid relegation.

The Sicilian club won 2-0 at Frosinone on Sunday in a matchup of two sides attempting to escape the drop zone.

Alberto Gilardino put Palermo ahead with a header early in the second half and Macedonia international Aleksandar Trajkovski sealed the result in stoppage time with a solo counterattack.

In 18th place, Palermo is level with 17th-place Carpi on points ahead of Carpi's match against Empoli on Monday.

Palermo hadn't won in exactly three months, since a 4-1 victory over Udinese on Jan. 24.

"We showed that we're still alive," said Gilardino, a member of the Italy squad that won the World Cup a decade ago. "Now we've got three finals to play."

Frosinone is 19th, two points behind Carpi and Palermo - with the bottom three in the 20-team league to be relegated.

Last-place Hellas Verona is 10 points from safety ahead of its match against AC Milan on Monday.

Three rounds remain.

Davide Ballardini was rehired earlier this month for his second stint in charge of Palermo this season.

Counting caretakers, Palermo has had seven different coaches this season: Giuseppe Iachini (twice), Ballardini (twice), Fabio Viviani, Guillermo Schelotto, Giovanni Bosi, Giovanni Tedesco and Walter Novellino.

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has made almost 60 coaching changes in 29 years as a club owner, first at Venezia and then at Palermo.

Elsewhere, seventh-place Sassuolo moved within one point of Milan with a 3-1 win at Torino. Nicola Sansone, Federico Peluso and Marcello Trotta scored for the visitors, who still have a chance at a Europa League spot.

Chievo Verona remained one position behind Sassuolo despite a 1-0 loss to 10-man Atalanta, with Marco Borriello scoring to mathematically ensure another season in the top flight for the Bergamo side.

Lazio is ninth after a 2-1 loss at Sampdoria. After Filip Djordjevic gave Lazio an early lead, Fernando and Modibo Diakite responded for Samp.

Also, Emanuele Giaccherini and Sergio Floccari scored for Bologna in a 2-0 win over Genoa, boosting Roberto Donadoni's chances of coaching his squad to safety.

Donadoni has put himself in the running for a second stint as Italy coach with Antonio Conte having signed to manage Chelsea after the European Championship.

Later, Juventus can take a big step toward a fifth consecutive title at Fiorentina. If the Bianconeri gain more points in this round than second-place Napoli, which visits Roma on Monday, they can clinch the title.

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Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asdampf