Palermo defender Cristian Zaccardo believes this season's Serie A is the most competitive in living memory.

While Juventus have opened up a three-point gap at the top of the table, only six points separates sixth-placed Fiorentina and nineteenth-placed Pescara.

"The table is very short," the 2006 World Cup winner noted. "The championship is, as was expected, very well balanced.

"You can quickly climb the table with a win, but also quickly drop towards the bottom with a loss."