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Bari emerged with a thrilling 4-2 victory, ending Palermo's seven-match unbeaten run after Fabio Liverani's dismissal.
The two Southerners have been among the revelations of this season and were battling for a Europa League spot. Bari had lost just once at home this season, but the Rosanero were on a seven-match unbeaten run. Their last meeting here was the Coppa Italia in 2005.
The home side were without Alessandro Parisi, Andrea Ranocchia, Mariano Donda, Vitalii Kutuzov and the suspended Riccardo Meggiorini. Palermo missed Mark Bresciano, but had Edinson Cavani and Fabio Simplicio back from their ban.
The Galletti had a strong start and broke through just five minutes in, after having created two dangerous opportunities already. From a corner Leonardo Bonucci cut back to twist a fine looping first-time shot under the bar from seven yards.
The ball had barely had time to go to the centre-circle when Bari had doubled their lead! Edgar Alvarez went charging down the right channel on an Allegretti pass and kept his cool to beat Salvatore Sirigu in a one-on-one, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper.
Palermo shook themselves out of this startled state with Fabrizio Miccoli, who is from Bari's rivals Lecce. He smashed a fierce free kick on to the far side of the crossbar with Jean-Francois Gillet beaten.
Sergio Almiron and Fabio Liverani were booked for an argument, meaning the Argentine is suspended for next week. Allegretti curled a free kick over, while Migliaccio and Federico Balzaretti had shots charged down during the same move.
Palermo did get back into the game after 28 minutes. Cavani started and finalised the move, as the ball was spread wide for Balzaretti to roll across the six-yard box for the Uruguayan to come sliding in.
Almiron limped off to make way for Massimo Donati. Bari continued to move the ball around beautifully, as a Paulo Vitor Barreto through ball sent Alvarez clear to hit the side-netting.
Cavani nodded wide, but the Sicilians also lost an injured player, as Balzaretti came off for Melinte.
Bari had scored a third on 34 minutes, but this time Alvarez was inches offside from Barreto's through ball.
Into the second half and Palermo completed the comeback from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. They turned down Chelsea's offer for Javier Pastore and this showed why, as he shrugged off a defender using his backheel flick just inside the box and swept a wonderful left-foot finish into the far top corner.
However, moments later the smiles were wiped from the Sicilians' faces, as Liverani received a second yellow card for a ridiculously late and high tackle, reducing Palermo to 10 men.
It got even worse, as Melinte went in late to slice down Andrea Masiello in the box. The penalty was inevitable and Barreto buried it with a daisy-cutter that just squeezed past Sirigu's fingertips. It was Barreto's ninth goal in the last eight games.
Bari gave Ferdinando Sforzini his comeback after four months out injured. A through ball from the centre circle sent Alvarez clear and his low strike was palmed round the post by Sirigu, but the Honduran appeared to be in an offside position.
Donati drilled wide, but Barreto limped through an ankle injury because all three substitutions had already been made.
Palermo nearly equalised, as Antonio Nocerino's chipped pass skimmed the head of Abel Hernandez. Cesare Bovo also curled a free kick wide, but Bari sealed it with a wonderful team goal.
With four minutes to go the move started down the right with Alvarez and spread to the left with Barreto's inspired backheel flick for Vladimir Koman's angled drive. Despite limping heavily, Barreto was still able to provide this smart assist.
Yet it should've been 4-3 moments later when Bonucci gave the ball away in the final third, but Cavani hit a weak effort straight at Gillet.
In stoppages Pastore exchanged passes to unleash a rocket that Gillet palmed out from under the bar.
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