[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 32 - 6/4/08 (14.00 UK)
Parma - Lazio

Stadio Tardini

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Parma will be looking to give their relegation battle a shot in the arm when they welcome resurgent Lazio to the Stadio Tardini this weekend. The Gialloblu are one of four clubs tied on 29 points in 18th place and their battle for Serie A survival looks set to go down to the wire for a second straight season.

Their opponents in Week 32 are enjoying a far better time of things lately after finally showing the kind of form which earned them an impressive third-place finish last term. The only blot on their copy book in recent weeks came against Fiorentina on Easter weekend and even that was just a slender defeat after playing for over an hour with 10 men. A solid end to the campaign could see Delio Rossi's boys salvage eighth, while they still have a Coppa Italia semi-final against Inter to look forward to later this month.

The former Atalanta tactician is expected to keep faith with the attacking trident of Rolando Bianchi, Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi, but there are changes likely to be made elsewhere. Ousmane Dabo is banned so Massimo Mutarelli - fresh from a suspension himself - could get the nod. In defence there could be alterations made down both flanks, with Valon Behrami and Daniel Radu set to come in for Lorenzo Di Silvestri and Aleksandar Kolarov.

Parma boss Hector Cuper saw his impressive start to life on the Tardini bench come to an abrupt end following the 2-0 defeat at Siena two weeks ago, but he will have had plenty of time to get his players in the right mindset for this game after their clash with Juventus was called off last Sunday following the death of a Ducali supporter. The Argentine tactician has still brought in four points from his three matches at the helm and he will be confident of beating the drop given the squad at his disposal.

Cristiano Lucarelli is suspended after picking up his fourth booking since joining the club in January, so McDonald Mariga gets the nod after serving a ban of his own. The youngster will take a midfield role though, with Andrea Gasbarroni supporting lone front man Igor Budan. Reginaldo will also have a key role to play on the left flank as he and Luca Cigarini are the players most likely to unlock Lazio's defence.

Recent history in this fixture doesn't bode well for Parma, as the Gialloblu are without a win since October 2004. During that time the Biancocelesti have won four of the six clashes, including the meeting earlier this term when Fabio Firmani netted a last-gasp winner.

Keep an eye on: Tommaso Rocchi (Lazio) - The burly hitman has netted in three of the last five meetings between the sides and he will fancy his chances of adding to that record against a weak Parma defence.

Last season: Parma 1-3 Lazio

Form guide: Parma (L L D W L) Lazio (W D W L D)


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Parma (probable): Bucci; Zenoni, Falcone, Paci, Castellini; Mariga, Morrone, Cigarini, Reginaldo; Gasbarroni; Budan

Lazio (probable): Ballotta; Behrami, Siviglia, Cribari, Radu; Mutarelli, Ledesma, Mudingayi; Pandev; Rocchi, Bianchi

Ref: To follow...

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