Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Palermo fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with 1. FC Nürnberg in Val Gardena, with Pohjanpalo and Segre cancelling Zoma's brace.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Nürnberg took the lead in the 16th minute when Zoma turned in from a corner, the first goal of the German side's pre-season camp in Val Gardena. The 2. Bundesliga side held that advantage until half-time, with Palermo goalkeeper Jesse Joronen keeping the deficit at one.
Zoma doubled Nürnberg's lead three minutes into the second half, converting a penalty after he was brought down by Edoardo Pierozzi in the box. The 2-0 scoreline reflected a composed display from the visitors, who had controlled large stretches of the game.
Palermo's response came through their top scorer. Pohjanpalo pulled one back in the 60th minute, finishing after a build-up involving Hernani and Dennis Johnsen that forced Nürnberg goalkeeper Carl Klaus into a short rebound. The goal arrived just as Klose had made wholesale changes, replacing his entire outfield after the hour mark.
Segre completed the comeback in the 76th minute, turning in from close range after a run by Emmanuel Gyasi, finding the far corner to make it 2-2.
The turning point
Klose's decision to change his entire outfield XI after 60 minutes — standard practice in pre-season camps — removed the structure that had kept Nürnberg in control. Palermo, who had already made seven substitutions of their own, sensed the shift in momentum. Pohjanpalo's goal came within a minute of the changes, and the Italian side dominated the final quarter-hour.
Key performers
Mohamed Ali Zoma (Nürnberg) — A first-half header from a corner and a calmly converted second-half penalty. The striker's movement caused problems throughout, and he was the game's standout before being withdrawn in the mass changes.
Joel Pohjanpalo (Palermo) — The Finland international, who scored 25 Serie B goals last season, showed his poacher's instinct with a well-taken finish to start the comeback. He was replaced by Anghileri in the 81st minute.
Jacopo Segre (Palermo) — The midfielder scored the equaliser with a composed finish from Gyasi's cross, his late run into the box catching the reorganised Nürnberg defence off guard.
Player of the match: Mohamed Ali Zoma (1. FC Nürnberg)
By the numbers — interpreted
Palermo finished the stronger side after Klose's rotation, with both of their goals arriving in the final half-hour. Nürnberg's two first-half efforts — one from open play, one from the penalty spot — reflected their controlled approach before the break, but the mass substitutions disrupted their rhythm. Palermo's 4-2-3-1 shape, with Hernani operating behind Pohjanpalo, created more chances after the hour mark than in the first 60 minutes combined.
What it means
The draw concludes Nürnberg's week-long training camp in South Tyrol (19–26 July). Klose's side return to Franconia with two more weeks of preparation before their 2. Bundesliga opener on the weekend of 7–9 August, followed by a DFB-Pokal first-round tie at Viktoria Köln on 22 August.
Palermo, under Filippo Inzaghi, continue their pre-season programme ahead of the 2026-27 Serie B campaign. The rosanero have one more training camp fixture remaining before competitive action resumes.
Verdict
A tale of two halves dictated by pre-season logistics. Zoma's double suggested Nürnberg had the edge when both sides fielded their first-choice XIs, but the mass changes after 60 minutes levelled the contest. Palermo's resilience in fighting back from two down will encourage Inzaghi, while Klose will note the disruption caused by wholesale rotation.
Match Events
Key match events between Palermo and 1. FC Nürnberg — 4 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Penalty
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 26 Jul 2026