 Biava immediately gained a place in the regular lineup, forming a defensive line together with Pietro Accardi and leading the "rosanero" back to Serie A after over 30 years.Biava was confirmed by head coach Francesco Guidolin as a key player during the 2004–05 season, coincidentally his first season in the top flight, which ended with a historical first qualification for Palermo in the UEFA Cup.However, he did not confirm his performances in the following season, where he was mostly featured as backup player.