Serie A' MD32: Parma - Lazio [06-04-08]

[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...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[meccano]

I thought whichever team was at home got the match thread? never mind

We will be really fired up for this and hopefully can pull away from the drop zone

FORZA PARMA!!

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 32 - 6/4/08 (14.00 UK)
Parma 2 - 2 Lazio
Budan 17 (P), Pandev 35 (L), Bianchi 38 (L), Paci 43 (P)
Stadio Tardini

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It was a crazy first half with four goals and constant turnarounds, so at the end of the day the draw was the correct result.

There was a sombre atmosphere at the Stadio Tardini before kick-off, as the team wore black armbands and there was a minute's silence with tribute from the stands following the death of fan Matteo Bagnaresi. He was accidentally run down by a bus of Juventus fans, which is why last week's game in Turin was called off.

Massimo Mutarelli returned from suspension to replace the banned Ousmane Dabo, while Cristiano Lucarelli sat out a disciplinary punishment. Lazio had won four of their last six meetings with Parma, including a 1-0 result earlier this season, and were unbeaten at the Tardini since October 2004. Goalkeeper Nando Muslera was given a rare start in place of Marco Ballotta.

Parma got off to a strong start as Igor Budan skimmed the woodwork in the opening 120 seconds and Reginaldo tested Muslera's reflexes.

Budan opened the scoring on 17 minutes. He took advantage of a lucky ricochet to charge into the box and blast a powerful right-foot finish past Muslera.

Muslera required two splendid saves to keep out Luca Cigarini's fierce free kick and fingertip Massimo Paci's header out of the top corner.

Lazio finally had a chance on the half-hour mark, as Goran Pandev found space in the box to test Luca Bucci's reflexes.

They drew level moments later. Massimo Mutarelli disposessed Reginaldo and immediately sent Pandev running, the Macedonian dribbling past three defenders in the box to smash a shot into the far corner.

Incredibly, Lazio turned the game around completely within three minutes. Rolando Bianchi unleashed a right-foot screamer from over 20 metres that smashed into the top corner past the outstretched Luca Bucci.

The Tardini crowd was certainly kept entertained, as Parma made it 2-2 before the break with Paci's glancing header from six yards on a free kick whipped in from the left.

Luciano Zauri made his comeback from a long-term injury in the second half, but Bernardo Corradi wasted a golden opportunity to score against his old club by turning a free header well wide.

Muslera fumbled a cross into the path of Budan, but Zauri was there to clear the danger.


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Parma: Bucci; Zenoni, Falcone, Paci, Castellini; Reginaldo (Dessena 46), Morrone, Cigarini (Mariga 71), Gasbarroni; Budan (Antonelli 80), Corradi

Lazio: Muslera; Behrami (Zauri 52), Cribari, Radu (Rozenhal 62), Kolarov; Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mutarelli (Meghni 81); Pandev, Rocchi, Bianchi

Ref: Trefoloni

channel4.com - Football Italia