MD19: Inter-Parma 20/1/08 (19.30 UK)

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 19 - 20/1/08 (19.30 UK)
Inter-Parma

Stadio Meazza

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Inter will be confident of continuing their Scudetto stroll against struggling Parma, but the visitors arrive at San Siro boosted by a big-name new arrival.

We may only be half way through the season, but Inter’s domination is ominous. The reigning champions are generating an air of invincibility and their seven-point lead is a fearsome cushion from the chasing pack after Week 18’s 3-2 win over Siena.

Roberto Mancini has a large enough squad to cope with any injury crisis and has the benefit of drawing on last term’s experience of front running. There may be no easy wins in the top flight, but the Beneamata will see Parma as a routine three points at San Siro. It is hard to see the wheels coming off for Mancio’s superstars now and with a few more wins they will start to look like champions elect.

Following defeat against Fiorentina, Parma are in dire straits and locked in a dismal run that has seen them slide to the fringe of the relegation battle. However, their saviour may have landed in the shape of Cristiano Lucarelli. The Azzurri marksman arrives from Shakhtar Donetsk with a prolific Serie A record and a wealth of experience in inspiring a struggling side after four lethal years with Livorno.

Although Lucarelli will probably not be able to feature here, Ducali boss Domenico Di Carlo can only hope that his arrival will spur a shot-shy striking line into action. The Emilia-Romagna outfit have scored just three times away from home all season and have been beaten six times on their travels.

The record books make bleak reading for Parma fans. The Crociati’s last win away to Inter came in May 8, 1999’s 3-1 triumph and they have gone eight games at the Meazza without a win since. Interestingly, Parma are the only side in Serie A that haven’t hit the woodwork so far this season.

Inter signed Portuguese playmaker Maniche on loan earlier in the week, but he almost certainly won’t be ready to play a part. The injury list remains extensive with Patrick Vieira, Luis Figo, Francesco Toldo, Olivier Dacourt, Walter Samuel and David Suazo all sidelined. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, fresh from securing the Swedish Player of the Year award for 2007, is set to start up front alongside Julio Cruz, banishing former Parma man Hernan Crespo to the bench.

Di Carlo must be itching to field Lucarelli, but will probably have to wait a little longer. Last term’s star striker Igor Budan remains injured, but is nearing recovery. Defender Giulio Falcone is out of action after a collision with Christian Vieri against Fiorentina last weekend. Former Inter man Domenico Morfeo remains frozen out of the squad as he looks for a new club.

Keep an eye on: Esteban Cambiasso (Inter) – The Argentine midfielder has given a midfield master-class in the Nerazzurri’s last few games and is finding the scoresheet regularly.

Last season: Inter 2-0 Parma

Form guide: Inter (W W W W W) Parma (L W L L L)


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Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Maxwell; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Chivu, Jimenez; Cruz, Ibrahimovic

Parma (probable): Bucci; Coly, Couto, Paci, Castellini; Reginaldo, Morrone, Cigarini, Pisanu; Gasbarroni, Corradi

Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Hopefully Lucarelli plays, he's capable of scoring against anyone.

[Jager]

Serie A Week 19 - 20/1/08 (19.30 UK)
Inter-Parma

Stadio Meazza


Inter will be confident of continuing their Scudetto stroll against struggling Parma, but the visitors arrive at San Siro boosted by a big-name new arrival.

We may only be half way through the season, but Inter’s domination is ominous. The reigning champions are generating an air of invincibility and their seven-point lead is a fearsome cushion from the chasing pack after Week 18’s 3-2 win over Siena.

Roberto Mancini has a large enough squad to cope with any injury crisis and has the benefit of drawing on last term’s experience of front running. There may be no easy wins in the top flight, but the Beneamata will see Parma as a routine three points at San Siro. It is hard to see the wheels coming off for Mancio’s superstars now and with a few more wins they will start to look like champions elect.

Following defeat against Fiorentina, Parma are in dire straits and locked in a dismal run that has seen them slide to the fringe of the relegation battle. However, their saviour may have landed in the shape of Cristiano Lucarelli. The Azzurri marksman arrives from Shakhtar Donetsk with a prolific Serie A record and a wealth of experience in inspiring a struggling side after four lethal years with Livorno.

Although Lucarelli will probably not be able to feature here, Ducali boss Domenico Di Carlo can only hope that his arrival will spur a shot-shy striking line into action. The Emilia-Romagna outfit have scored just three times away from home all season and have been beaten six times on their travels.

The record books make bleak reading for Parma fans. The Crociati’s last win away to Inter came in May 8, 1999’s 3-1 triumph and they have gone eight games at the Meazza without a win since. Interestingly, Parma are the only side in Serie A that haven’t hit the woodwork so far this season.

Inter signed Portuguese playmaker Maniche on loan earlier in the week, but he almost certainly won’t be ready to play a part. The injury list remains extensive with Patrick Vieira, Luis Figo, Francesco Toldo, Olivier Dacourt, Walter Samuel and David Suazo all sidelined. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, fresh from securing the Swedish Player of the Year award for 2007, is set to start up front alongside Julio Cruz, banishing former Parma man Hernan Crespo to the bench.

Di Carlo must be itching to field Lucarelli, but will probably have to wait a little longer. Last term’s star striker Igor Budan remains injured, but is nearing recovery. Defender Giulio Falcone is out of action after a collision with Christian Vieri against Fiorentina last weekend. Former Inter man Domenico Morfeo remains frozen out of the squad as he looks for a new club.

Keep an eye on: Esteban Cambiasso (Inter) – The Argentine midfielder has given a midfield master-class in the Nerazzurri’s last few games and is finding the scoresheet regularly.

Last season: Inter 2-0 Parma

Form guide: Inter (W W W W W) Parma (L W L L L)


Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Maxwell; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Chivu, Jimenez; Cruz, Ibrahimovic

Parma (probable): Bucci; Coly, Couto, Paci, Castellini; Reginaldo, Morrone, Cigarini, Pisanu; Gasbarroni, Corradi

Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia


Unfortunately, this is going to be the first game of the season I'm going to miss, other than the first two CL games, so I'm not happy.

I expect the same lineup as what has been playing the last few games in the league.

[D-Kin]

Inter squad: 12 Julio Cesar, 22 Paolo Orlandoni; 2 Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Maxwell, 16 Nicolas Burdisso, 23 Marco Materazzi, 24 Nelson Rivas, 26 Cristian Chivu; 11 Luis Jimenez, 14 Patrick Vieira, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 21 Santiago Solari, 28 Maniche, 30 Pelè, 31 Cesar; 8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 9 Julio Ricardo Cruz, 18 Hernan Crespo, 45 Mario Balotelli.

[D-Kin]

Mancio's Inter bicentenary Sunday 20 January, 2008

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Roberto Mancini marks his 200th match on the Inter bench by looking back at his coaching career, but doesn’t want to take the focus off Parma.

“To notch up 200 games with Inter is a miracle… and proof that miracles do happen,” he joked.

“In all honesty, I was a precocious player because I started so young and I also began coaching quite early.

“I hope to amass many more matches in my career, but I remember the first very clearly. It was Perugia-Fiorentina, we were losing 2-0 and then fought back for a draw.”

Mancini worked at Fiorentina and Lazio before taking the big step up to the Nerazzurri in 2004.

“I recall my first Inter game, which wasn’t even an official one, so isn’t included in the 200. It was a friendly in Brunico against a local team during our pre-season training.

“For a Coach to sit on the Inter bench is an honour and something that not everyone has the good fortune to experience. Even my first non-official game with the club was a special moment that I still hold dear.”

However, Mancio has little time for sentiment as his team aims to maintain its unbeaten record against Parma this evening.

“It is not the easiest match we will face over the next few days. Parma are in great shape and it is always difficult to play after the winter break. It is bound to be extremely tough.”

The players risk letting their minds wander to Wednesday evening, when they will take on rivals Juventus in the Coppa Italia.

“We want to continue in the competition and win, but at the same time need to work as a unit. So whoever is tired will rest, we do very well with whoever steps on to the field.”

Inter’s second string side hammered Reggina 3-0 this week to progress to the quarter-finals.

Patrick Vieira is back in the side for the first time since suffering his injury in October, but Dejan Stankovic is ruled out along with Luis Figo, Francesco Toldo, Olivier Dacourt, Walter Samuel and Douglas Maicon.

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[D-Kin]

Di Carlo unleashes Lucarelli Sunday 20 January, 2008

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Mimmo Di Carlo wants courage from his Parma squad and prepares to give Cristiano Lucarelli his debut against Inter.

“I am convinced you must play every game right to the bitter end, even against the strongest opponents,” said the tactician.

“We will try our best, aware it will take a show of courage to get anything against Inter.”

The Serie A leaders are seven points clear at the top and already certain of the winter champion crown.

While the Gialloblu have been struggling, they can count on a new weapon in January signing Lucarelli.

His international transfer has come through from Shakhtar Donetsk and he may even start tonight’s match.

“It is possible,” smiled Di Carlo, not wanting to give too much away.

Fernando Couto should start despite injury worries, while Domenico Morfeo is again frozen out following his row with the club.

Massimo Paci is out after a clash of heads during training left him with a fractured jaw, while Giulio Falcone is also nursing a head wound courtesy of Christian Vieri’s elbow.

Parma will wear a special jersey in tonight’s match to mark the one-year anniversary of President Tommaso Ghirardi taking over the financially stricken club.

His first match in charge was on January 28, 2006 at San Siro against Inter. The team will wear yellow and blue stripes harking back to the 1950s and it will be sold at the Parma club shop from Monday.

Parma squad: Bucci, Pavarini, Petr; Bega, Castellini, Coly, Couto, M Rossi, Zenoni; Cigarini, Dessena, Gasbarroni, Mariga, Morrone, Parravicini, Pisanu; Budan, Corradi, Lucarelli, Matteini, Reginaldo

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[Trim]

Originally Posted by Joel

Inter squad: 12 Julio Cesar, 22 Paolo Orlandoni; 2 Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Maxwell, 16 Nicolas Burdisso, 23 Marco Materazzi, 24 Nelson Rivas, 26 Cristian Chivu; 11 Luis Jimenez, 14 Patrick Vieira, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 21 Santiago Solari, 28 Maniche, 30 Pelè, 31 Cesar; 8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 9 Julio Ricardo Cruz, 18 Hernan Crespo, 45 Mario Balotelli.

I just read that Maniche is set to start, as Mancini confirmed it.

[TheDevil]

he didn't play in the coppa game
so it would make sense
but surprising none the less

[jec1]

2-1 Parma, what a great game! Inter look desperate. Parma should be up 4-1, gernaldo is a selfish prick. They're outplaying them on the wings, that's how you beat inter.

Parma keeper Bucci made the save of the week!

[jec1]

Wow, couto with a disputed handball.... Inter to tie it!

[jec1]

Ibra being a prick again, mocking the parma players -- parma deserved to win this game but selfish plays cost them.

[jec1]

GAMEOVER

Inter wins it 3-2.... they won the league as far as I'm concerned!

Mamma mia, Ibra scores the winner in the 93rd minute, and the parma players look dejected!

[hijjawi1]

Coly Injury Due To Materazzi Challenge (Min 16)
Click Here for Video

1-0 Cambiasso (Min 30)
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1-1 Cigarini (Min 40)
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Julio César Mistake (Min 26)
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Ibrahimovic Shoot (Min 27)
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Jimenez Shoot (Min 49)
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Crespo Shoot (Min 53)
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1-2 Gasbarroni (Min 68)
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Cambiasso Header Min 74
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Inter Disallowed Goal Min 75
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2-2 Ibrahimovich P.K (Min 87)
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3-2 Ibrahimovich (Min 93)
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[meccano]

If Parma were to win one more game this season they should have won this. as far as I'm concerned Inter are fast becoming the luckiest team in Serie A with the amount of referee decisions they have had this season...... Serie A is getting worse and worse

Serie A Week 19 - 20/1/08 (19.30 UK)

Inter 3 - 2 Parma
Cambiasso 30 (I), Cigarini 40 (P), Gasbarroni 68 (P), Ibrahimovic pen 88, 93 (I)
Stadio Meazza

An extremely controversial last-minute penalty and stoppage-time Zlatan Ibrahimovic strike helped Inter to beat Parma 3-2 after their worst performance of the season.

All eyes were on the two January signings taking their bows. The Nerazzurri unveiled Nuno Maniche from Atletico Madrid, while Parma had former Livorno and Shakhtar Donetsk hitman Cristiano Lucarelli on the bench. Out injured were Douglas Maicon, Luis Figo, Olivier Dacourt, Walter Samuel and David Suazo for Inter, plus Parma men Igor Budan, Giulio Falcone and the frozen out Domenico Morfeo.

The Gialloblu had a poor record here, not winning since a 3-1 result in May 1999 and had just one point from their previous five visits. The fog made play difficult at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Ferdinand Coly limped off early on after a sliding tackle from Marco Materazzi left him with an ankle injury.

Esteban Cambiasso's cross found Zlatan Ibrahimovic at full stretch, but he was unable to get the finish on target. The move continued with some panicked defending as Parma were still playing with 10 men, but after several minutes of treatment Coly came back on to dispossess a startled Maxwell. It didn't last long and Coly asked for a substitution, forcing a reshuffle.

Stefano Morrone went close for the visitors with a long-range snapshot that whistled past the near post.

The first real scoring opportunity was created by Parma on 20 minutes, but both Reginaldo and Bernardo Corradi had their shots charged down. As the move continued, Corradi had penalty appeals waved away for an Ivan Cordoba embrace.

Inter seemed ill-at-ease and Parma had another good chance as Julio Cesar fumbled and Corradi failed to make the most of the howler thanks to a clean tackle from the goalkeeper.

Luca Bucci smothered an Ibrahimovic left-foot effort, but then another Ibra attempt was deflected and both Cambiasso and Hernan Crespo couldn't get diving headers on the end of it.

Nonetheless, from the resulting corner Cambiasso was left unmarked to drill a powerful strike into the bottom near corner with his left foot from eight yards. Luca Cigarini should have done better with his marking.

Bucci captured a Maniche effort, but Ibrahimovic escaped punishment when he was caught on camera elbowing Rossi. It is possible he could be given a ban using video evidence.

Crespo performed a spectacular 'rabona' - crossing the feet and hitting the ball with the back leg - but Parma equalised on the counter seconds later. Reginaldo rolled across to the edge of the box where Cigarini was unmarked to smack a low drive into the far bottom corner. It was the Under-21 international's second Serie A goal.

An unlucky ricochet as Rossi cleared the ball on to teammate Castellini threated to score a bizarre own goal.

After the restart Reginaldo and Andrea Pisanu missed from a promising position, while at the other end Luis Jimenez's shot flashed across the face of goal and Crespo's effort was charged down.

Maniche ended his debut after 56 relatively uneventful minutes to make way for Cesar.

Parma really should have taken the lead moments later, as Reginaldo went on the counter from an Inter free kick around the