Serie A Preview: Parma FC – AS Roma
Relegation looming for Ducali
Parma had a highly impressive Serie A season last year with the club finishing eighth in the league. Ducali narrowly missed out on a Europa League spot as Juventus finished three points above Parma. The club acquired the likes of Valeri Bojinov and Sebestian
Giovinco earlier this season and things were set to get brighter. However with Giovinco out injured, Parma has hit the rock bottom. The club just has 6 points after seven rounds of Serie A.
Parma has won two of the three home matches it has played in and with AS Roma truly misfiring with regularity, Ducali will be hopeful of positive results at home.
More of the same for Gilarossi
The Romans have been the most inconsistent side in Serie A and Europe. The club has started off in a terrible fashion and were struggling in the relegation zone not long ago. However, Lupi managed to defeat Genoa 2 – 1 at home last week; only their second
victory. Gilarossi put in an impressive display and many thought the club was on road to recovery.
However, Roma’s UEFA Champions League home defeat to Swiss minnows FC Basel by a 3 – 1 score line shattered all dreams of a recovery and sent the alarm bells ringing at Trigoria. Claudio Ranieri is under immense pressure to make the team perform, Romans
were expected to challenge for Serie A therefore 14th place in the league is far from satisfactory for the demanding Gilarossi faithful.
Team News
Parma FC
Daniele Galloppa and Alberto Paloschi are still out injured while Massimo Paci is suspended for this fixture. Coach Pasquale Marino will be delighted to have Sebestian Giovinco back in the squad following more than two months on the sidelines with an injury.
‘Atomic Ant’ was the one of the best Parma players up until his injury and his form will be critical for Ducali recovery.
Expected Formation
Marino is likely to take a 4-3-3 formation with the squad. The fit-again Giovinco will take the right side of the attacking trident while Marques will line up on the left. The two will look to assist veteran striker Hernan Crespo.
Probable Line up
Antonio Mirante, Cristian Zaccardo, Paolo Hernan Dellafiore, Alessandro Lucarelli, Marco Pisano, Antonio Candreva, Stefano Morrone, Massimo Gobbi, Sebestian Giovinco, Hernan Crespo, Marques
AS Roma
Gilarossi have their faire share of injury worries. Ranieri will be without the services of Julio Sergio, Daniele De Rossi and Jeremy Menez. Adriano is still far from peak fitness and is likely to sit out another two weeks because of a shoulder injury.
Expected Formation
Ranieri will use a 4-4-2 formation with Marco Borriello and Francesco Totti leading the line. Matteo Brighi will deputize injured De Rossi and play alongside Chilean playmaker David Pizzaro. Bogdan Lobont will keep the gloves in absence of Julio Sergio
Probable line up
Bogdan Lobont, Riise, Nicolas Burdisso, Juan, Marco Cassetti, Matteo Brighi, David Pizarro, Simone Perrotta, Francesco Totti, Rodrigo Taddei, Marco Borriello
Key Players
Sebestian Giovinco
The outrageously talented Italian was on fire before injury sidelined him for two months. The dimunitive playmaker will be back and will look to terrorize a shaky Roma backline that has conceded nine goals in just three away fixtures
Marco Borriello
Marco Borriello has been hitting the back of the net consistently for the Romans. His chemistry with Totti is already developing and Romans will look to him for goals tonight.
Prediction
It seems that the teams are shaping up pretty evenly so a draw is expected. Romans have been woeful away from home while Parma has won two home matches so far. With Giovinco back in the line up, Parma will try to win the three points but the superior Roman
line up with ease out a draw. The match will finish with a 1 – 1 score line.
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