Serie A' MD35: Reggina - Parma [27-04-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 35 - 27/4/08 (14.00 UK)

Reggina - Parma
Stadio Granillo

Reggina welcome Parma to the Stadio Granillo knowing that they have no option but to win in this tense and potentially unpredictable relegation six-pointer. Both teams will be desperate for the three points and a draw will suit neither.

The Calabresi are bottom of the table with 30 points and have one foot in Serie B already. They share that position with Empoli and Livorno. The Amaranto have collected four points from the last five games and failing to win this clash will most likely result in relegation.

A win will be even more crucial after their 5-1 loss at Milan last Sunday. “We have to win this so that we can face Catania in the following game with less pressure,” claimed Coach Nevio Orlandi. The Granillo should be sold out since the board has slashed prices for fans – it will cost them just £7 to watch their next two home games against Parma and Empoli.

Meanwhile, Parma have been struggling themselves. The Emiliani have collected two points from the last five games and their poor run may get them relegated. Hector Cuper’s arrival was meant to turn things around but it hasn’t worked so far. The Crociati are one position ahead of the relegation zone, separated by a one-point gap.

Last weekend’s home defeat against Napoli has made them realise that they could be playing Serie B football next season. “We have to keep the group united,” said Cuper. “Six points in the next four games is all we need, we are not dead yet.”

Reggina won’t have any players suspended for this tie, but the same cannot be said about Parma as they have five men unavailable – Fernando Couto, Andrea Gasbarroni, Giulio Falcone, Paolo Castellini and Maringa. President Tommaso Ghirardi has pointed the finger of blame towards referees.

The Amaranto are hoping Paraguayan midfielder Edgar Barreto, who scored their only goal at San Siro on Sunday, will be able to recover from injury. If not Luca Tognozzi should step in. Franco Brienza and Ciccio Cozza will play behind lone striker Nicola Amoruso.

Cuper will line up a 4-3-1-2 formation. Youngster Luca Antonelli, who has played only five games this term, will be covering the left. Tireless midfielder Daniele Dessena could be playing as a trequartista behind Reginaldo and Cristiano Lucarelli.

Keep an eye on: Nicola Amoruso (Reggina) – The former Juventus striker scored two against Parma last season and will be looking to repeat his sensational performance in order to save the Amaranto from relegation.

Last season: Reggina 3-2 Parma

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

Reggina (probable): Campagnolo; Cirillo, Valdez, Aronica; Vigiani, Barreto, Cascione, Modesto; Cozza, Brienza; Amoruso

Parma (probable): Bucci; Zenoni, Paci, M.Rossi, Antonelli; Morrone, Cigarini, Parravicini; Dessena; Reginaldo, C.Lucarelli

Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 35 - 27/4/08 (14.00 UK)

Reggina 2 - 1 Parma
Cigarini pen 25 (P), Cozza 56, 65 (R)
Stadio Granillo

Reggina fought back with a Ciccio Cozza brace to defeat 10-man Parma and clamber out of the bottom three, sending the Ducali in their place.

This was a relegation dogfight like few others, as one point separated the teams going into this round. Reggina were propping up the table in tandem with Empoli and Livorno, so the Gialloblu were desperate to avoid a similar fate. The Amaranto had picked up just four points from their last five games, while Parma had two points from the same period.

Hector Cuper's squad was decimated after the ill-tempered 2-1 home defeat to Napoli with bans to Fernando Couto, Andrea Gasbarroni, Giulio Falcone, McDonald Mariga and Paolo Castellini, joining the injured Bernardo Corradi, Andrea Pisanu, Igor Budan and Domenico Morfeo in the stands.

Edgar Barreto had the first chance for Reggina and Franco Brienza's effort was parried by Luca Bucci.

However, it was Parma who broke the deadlock on 25 minutes when Reginaldo was brought down with a clumsy Cirillo tackle from behind and youngster Luca Cigarini kept his cool to convert into the near top corner.

It got worse for the Amaranto, who lost Valdez to a thigh injury and had their own penalty appeals for a challenge on Ciccio Cozza waved away.

At the dawn of the second half Reggina poured forward and Bucci had his palms stung by Salvatore Aronica's powerful rising finish at the near post.

Parma's awful disciplinary record got even worse when Massimo Paci picked up his second booking for a very late tackle straight on Costa's ankle.

Moments later Reggina equalised. Bucci did all he could on Cirillo and so did the goalline clearance from Rossi, but Cozza finally tapped in from six yards to equalise.

It was one-way traffic now and Cozza volleyed inches over, but the Reggina hero got his second of the match to put his team in front. A loose ball fell to Cozza in the D and his right-foot strike took a decisive deflection off Ferdinand Coly to send Bucci the wrong way.

Reggina ran a risk with their third substitution as Cirillo received treatment for cramp, so the veteran had to grit his teeth and carry on.

Reggina: Campagnolo; Valdez (Costa 30), Cirillo, Aronica; Vigiani (Stuani 63), Barreto, Tognozzi, Modesto; Cozza (Cascione 70), Brienza; Amoruso

Parma: Bucci; Coly, Paci, Rossi, Zenoni; Dessena (Martinez 78), Morrone, Cigarini, Antonelli; Reginaldo, Lucarelli (Prijovic 83)

Ref: Saccani

Sent off: Paci 55 (P)

channel4.com - Football Italia