Serie A' MD18: Parma - Fiorentina [13-01-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 18 - 13/1/08 (14.00 UK)
Parma - Fiorentina

Stadio Tardini

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Fiorentina will have to be wary when they visit the Stadio Tardini to face Parma in Week 18. The Tuscans have always struggled against the Emiliani and they will have to play at their best if they want to return to Florence with all three points.

Parma are holding a mid-table position and they have had a decent season so far. The Gialloblu have been particularly inspired in front of their fans, since they have lost only once at the Tardini and won the last two games there.

The Crociati will be hoping to repeat last year’s 2-0 win against Fiorentina. Although safety is still a long way off, if Domenico Di Carlo’s men continue their positive home run things should be much easier for them.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina have bigger plans for their season. Cesare Prandelli is still convinced the Viola can qualify for Champions League but it will be a tough job for them. Fiorentina are now fifth with 28 points, just one behind fourth-placed Udinese. The Bianconeri will have an easy tie against Cagliari, that is why the Viola cannot afford to drop points here.

Parma boss Di Carlo may confirm his favourite 4-4-2 formation this week. However, the Coach will be missing several players. Giuseppe Cardone and Daniele Paponi have left the team to join Cesena, while creative midfielder Domenico Morfeo and Igor Budan are injured.

Former Viola ace Giulio Falcone will be the central defender, while Ferdinand Coly should be covering the right. The former Perugia man was supposed to leave in January due to the African Nations Cup, but has decided to reject his national team’s call. The Crociati attacking duo will be formed by Bernardo Corradi and Andrea Gasbarroni.

Prandelli has a couple of doubts about the Fiorentina side which will face Parma. The Coach will opt for a 4-3-3, but he’s not sure yet whether Sebastian Frey will be able to take the gloves due to injury. Cristiano Lupatelli will probably replace him.

Talented youngster Daniele Cacia has joined Fiorentina from Piacenza but he will probably have to wait for his debut. The Tuscan trident should be formed by Mario Alberto Santana, Adrian Mutu and Christian Vieri leaving Giampaolo Pazzini, once again, sitting on the bench.

Keep an eye on: Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina) – The Romanian has a Gialloblu past and it will be a pleasure for him to return to the Tardini. However, there won’t be any January discounts for Parma when the game kicks off…

Last season: Parma 2-0 Fiorentina

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


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

Fiorentina (probable): Lupatelli; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Montolivo; Santana, Vieri, Mutu

Ref: To follow...

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[dukeofdavinci]

Parma drop Morfeo again Saturday 12 January, 2008

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Domenico Morfeo is on his way out of Parma after Coach Domenico Di Carlo dropped him for the game against Fiorentina.


Morfeo had been frozen out of the squad several times over the past year due to arguments with the staff, including Di Carlo.


He had been struggling with a muscular injury, but is fully recovered and played in a friendly game last Sunday.


However, the midfielder’s name is not on the list of players set to face his former club Fiorentina.


Instead, Di Carlo has picked 18-year-old Stefano Crisci. Morfeo’s place will be taken by Under-21 international Andrea Pisanu, who has recovered from a bout of flu.


Parma have already sold Giuseppe Cardone and Daniele Paponi to Serie B side Cesena, so Morfeo is expected to follow during the January transfer window.

Parma squad: Bucci, Pavarini, Petr; Castellini, Coly, Couto, Falcone, Paci, M Rossi, Zenoni, Cigarini, Dessena, Gasbarroni, Mariga, Morrone, Parravicini, Pisanu; Corradi, Crisci, Matteini, Reginaldo.

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[dukeofdavinci]

Prandelli: We can win in Parma Sunday 13 January, 2008

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Cesare Prandelli is sure Fiorentina are heading towards their peak, but that a winning mentality is crucial if they are to conquer Parma.


“After a week of intensive training I can say the team reacted very well. Of course that could weigh on their legs in the short term, but we need that period to give our best throughout the season,” said the Coach after their trip to Marbella.


“I don’t think we’ll see the side weighed down by that fitness work. We can always overcome tiredness with a winning mentality.”


It is something the Viola have been lacking recently, as they have slipped out of the Serie A top four, winning just one of their last six games.


They were boosted before Christmas with a 5-1 drubbing of Cagliari and hope to carry that momentum into the Stadio Tardini.


“I have not yet chosen the starting XI, but even those who come off the bench must be motivated and try to make the difference,” added former Gialloblu boss Prandelli.


“We have to put Parma under pressure and try to attack them down the flanks. I have very fond memories of Parma and I can see they are extremely motivated, battling for every ball.


“They have put a structure in place here that can lead to great projects, especially if President Tommaso Ghirardi can convince Cristiano Lucarelli to join them.”


The former Livorno striker is looking for a move back to Serie A from Shakhtar Donetsk following their Champions League elimination.

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[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 18 - 13/1/08 (14.00 UK)
Parma 1 - 2 Fiorentina
Mutu 43, pen 85 (F), Coly 69 (P)
Stadio Tardini

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Fiorentina grabbed a crucial away victory with former Tardini hero Adrian Mutu netting both goals.

Cesare Prandelli, Sebastien Frey and Mutu returned to the Tardini, where their careers really took off, but traditionally this has been a tough trip for the Viola with one win from their last five Serie A visits. Parma had won their last two home games on the trot and earned a 2-0 victory in this fixture last season. Reginaldo also came face to face with his former club for the first time.

Within three minutes Christian Vieri had scuffed a left-footed volley held up by Mutu, but Parma had an extraordinary series of shots during the same move with five different efforts charged down by defenders and Frey, the most dangerous from Stefano Morrone.

Parma were forced into an early substitution after Giulio Falcone's accidental clash of heads with Vieri left the defender with the worst of it.

It was a very entertaining start to the match, as Reginaldo dispossessed a defender to blast over the bar. Andrea Pisanu went closer than anyone after 16 minutes, shaking off a defender to smack his low shot against the base of the near post.

Parma kept pushing, as Bernardo Corradi's acrobatic volley was over and Pisanu skimmed the woodwork.

A Riccardo Montolivo rocket bounced off Luca Bucci's chest to fly up and out for a corner. From the resulting set-piece Mutu's header into the ground took a deflection off Morrone to leave the goalkeeper stranded.

Marco Donadel's low strike skimmed the base of the upright after the restart, then Bucci dealt with a Mutu snapshot as best he could. Mutu sparked a counter and rolled out for another Donadel effort that flashed across the face of goal.

Mutu's free kick hit the wall and the Romanian tested Bucci again from distance and Mario Alberto Santana's attempt was tipped out for a corner.

However, Parma equalised on 69 minutes. Ferdinand Coly was left unmarked for a free header into the far top corner from Luca Cigarini's free kick.

Just six minutes from time Vieri turned Morrone and tripped, earning a penalty, although the veteran Fiorentina striker seemed to make the most of the contact. Mutu converted the spot-kick despite Bucci guessing the right corner.


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Parma: Bucci; Coly, Falcone (Couto 10), Paci, Castellini (Gasbarroni 54); Zenoni, Morrone, Cigarini, Pisanu (Mariga 69); Reginaldo, Corradi

Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Donadel, Liverani (Jorgensen 62), Montolivo (Gobbi 68); Santana, Vieri, Mutu (Kuzmanovic 91)

Ref: Brighi

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