Palermo returns to Serie A after 1-year absence

Associated Press

ROME (AP) — Palermo has earned a return to Serie A after a one-year absence following a 1-0 win at Novara that secured the Serie B title.

Argentine midfielder Franco Vazquez scored in the 41st minute for the Sicilian club.

The top two finishers in Serie B earn direct promotion to the top division while the third- to eighth-placed squads go into a playoff to determine the third team that goes up.

After Saturday's matches, Palermo leads with 78 points. Empoli is next with 62, followed by Crotone (58), Latina (58), Cesena (55), Virtus Lanciano (54), Spezia (54) and Modena (53).

Five rounds remain.

Palermo stretched its unbeaten streak to 18 matches under Giuseppe Iachini, who replaced the fired Gennaro Gattuso in September.

Under Gattuso, Palermo gained only seven points in six matches.