Palermo kicked off the group stages of the UEFA Cup with a 2-1 win against draw-specialists Eintracht Frankfurt. The German outfit did take the lead in the Group H tie, but goals from Franco Brienza and Cristian Zaccardo gave the unrecognisable islanders the three points at the death.

Palermo started the match with a radically revamped starting XI from their usual set-up. Boss Francesco Guidolin clearly went into the tie with one eye already on Sunday’s trip to Milan and his line-up significantly underlined that fact.

Andrea Barzagli, Fabio Simplicio, Aimo Diana, Marco Bresciano and David Di Michele amazingly all started on the bench. While key striker and summer signing Amauri was ineligible after he had already found the net twice for Chievo in the Champions League earlier this season.

Nevertheless, Palermo were hardly outplayed in the opening 45 minutes by a German outfit who have won just one and drawn six of their seven Bundesliga games so far this term. Saying that, veteran ‘keeper Alberto Fontana had to make a smart save on eight minutes from a Meier back-heel.

The Rosanero’s best chance of the half fell to Andrea Caracciolo, who netted in the last round against West Ham, soon after. He tried his luck from a favourable position, but he didn’t do enough to really test Proll. The ‘keeper was also alert on 19 minutes when Brienza tried to play in Caracciolo as he exited his area to clear the danger.

The Sicilian boys did look like they would end a pretty unspectacular first half on level terms, but that wasn’t to be the case. With one minute of added time on the clock, the home side took the lead. The ball fell to Streit on the edge of the area and his left-footed strike rippled the net.

Guidolin opted to keep faith with his starting line-up after the break and his belief was rewarded on 49 minutes. Brienza, positioned in front of the German custodian, controlled a free kick with his chest to fire home the equaliser.

After a Rehmer header ended up over the crossbar for the hosts, Palermo should have doubled their goal tally on the hour mark. A disorganised Eintracht rearguard allowed the ball to find Ciro Capuano, yet he couldn’t capitalise on the golden opportunity.

That was a let-off which seemed to awake the home side who were struggling to break down a tactically sound Italian outfit. Yet with the help of a speedy counter attack, they went within millimetres of making it 2-1 as Amanatidis’ effort struck the post with Fontana beaten in minute 67.

With the clock running down, Guidolin turned to the experience of Diana and Bresciano to bolster the Rosanero’s midfield – in the knowledge that a draw away to Frankfurt would be a more than acceptable start to the group stages.

A win would have been even more welcome though and that was collected thanks to a Zaccardo goal. The Italian international defender perfectly collected a Roberto Guana cross to head past Proll in the 87th minute.

Palermo, who also had to thank Fontana for the win with a late free kick save from Streit, are next in action on November 2 against Newcastle at the Stadio Barbera. Turkish side Fenerbahce and Celta Vigo make up the section.

Eintracht: Proll; Rehmer (Ochs 64), Kyrgiakos, Vasoski, Spycher; Huggel, Kohler; Thurk (Fink 85), Meier, Streit; Amanatidis

Palermo: Fontana; Zaccardo, Biava, Dellafiore, Pisano; Munari (Diana 61), Parravicini, Guana, Capuano (Bresciano 74); Brienza (Simplicio 89), Caracciolo

Ref: Yefet (Isr)