Crotone picked up their first Serie A point, but were left with regrets against Palermo.

The minnows were still looking for their first ever Serie A point and hosted a Palermo side similarly in crisis, having already split with Coach Davide Ballardini. Last week Roberto De Zerbi sat out a touchline ban in the 3-0 defeat to Napoli, so this was technically his full Rosanero debut. Michel Morganella, Aleksandar Trajkovski and Robin Quaison were still sidelined, while Crotone had Dussenne suspended.

This was their first top flight encounter, but there had previously been two draws and two Palermo victories in Serie B.

As restructuring work at the Stadio Scida hadn’t been completed yet, Crotone were again playing their home game at Pescara’s Stadio Adriatico.

Ilija Nestorovski spun round to fire over, but Ferrari almost put Crotone in front when completing a give-and-go to force a difficult Josip Posavec save at the base of the near post.

Crotone broke the deadlock when Diego Falcinelli ran on to a through ball and Josip Posavec rushed out to close him down, but forgot about the ball, which Marcello Trotta tapped into an empty net.

During that chaotic move, Slobodan Rajkovic appeared to fracture his nose, so had to be replaced by Edoardo Goldaniga.

Alessandro Diamanti only blasted over with his weaker foot on an Andrea Rispoli cross, while Claiton Dos Santos couldn’t keep his header on target from Raffaele Palladino’s corner.

Palermo did equalise eventually, as Aleesami burst past two defenders and his cross from the left was volleyed low and left-footed by Nestorovski from eight yards.

The Sicilians were gaining momentum and Oscar Hiljemark’s daisy-cutter was palmed round the base of the near post by Alex Cordaz.

Crotone threatened to snatch a victory on the counter at the end, but Falcinelli scuffed his finish after good work from Stoian.