Serie A' MD36: Parma - Genoa [04-05-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 36 - 4/5/08 (14.00 UK)

Parma - Genoa
Stadio Tardini

It’s do-or-die for Parma at the bottom and they will be hoping to meet a de-motivated Genoa as the visitors arrive at the Stadio Tardini with their season all but over.

Parma are staring down the barrel of their first relegation from the top flight, ending a nine-year residency in the Promised Land. Last weekend’s 2-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Reggina, in a game they had led, could prove disastrous. The shell-shocked Ducali are second bottom with just one win in eight and it seems that new boss Hector Cuper doesn’t in fact have the remedy to their glaringly apparent malaise.

To make matters worse for Emilia-Romagna’s darlings, the Gialloblu have a brutal run-in, which pits them against Fiorentina and Inter in their final two outings. Even President Tommaso Ghirardi is starting to prepare for life after the trapdoor following recent assurances that Cuper will remain regardless of their fate. The Achilles heel has been a porous defence that has shipped an unforgivable 57 goals – more than any other side in the League – but the lack of a single away win has also been costly. The obituaries may be premature, but this is the last chance saloon.

While their Crociati counterparts will be gnawing their nails to the quick, Genoa’s fans could be forgiven for taking an early summer holiday. It seems like the Grifone players already have, judging by last week’s limp showing against Empoli. A 1-0 defeat has all but ended any hope of a UEFA Cup spot, but it has been a successful season of consolidation and the much-maligned Intertoto Cup could yet be a side door to European football.

Genoa edged Parma out 1-0 in Week 17, courtesy of a spot-kick from 19-goal phenomenon Marco Borriello. It was a win that ended a nine-game streak without collecting maximum points and proved to be something of a turning point in the campaign.

As if Cuper’s task wasn’t hard enough, he will have to deal with a plethora of suspensions. Portuguese hothead Fernando Couto is out for another two games after punching Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini a fortnight ago. Andrea Gasbarroni, Damiano Zenoni, Luca Cigarini and Massimo Paci are also all suspended. Andrea Pisanu’s injury exacerbates the midfield shortage and striker Bernardo Corradi is still sidelined.

Gasperini has nothing to complain about by comparison, but will be frustrated to be without former Parma hitman Marco Di Vaio, who was sent off for dissent last weekend. Defender Cesare Bovo, another ex-Gialloblu, returns from injury, but Brazilian stopper Fabiano is suspended. Matteo Paro has also been ruled out.

Keep an eye on: Marco Borriello (Genoa) – One of the revelations of the season, the unheralded hitman has three weeks to secure the Capocannoniere crown and a place at Euro 2008.

Last season: Not played

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

Parma (probable): Bucci; Coly, Falcone, Rossi, Castellini; Dessena, Morrone, Mariga, Antonelli; Reginaldo, Lucarelli

Genoa (probable): Rubinho; Konko, Bovo, Criscito; Rossi, Milanetto, Juric, Danilo; Leon, Borriello, Sculli

Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 36 - 4/5/08 (14.00 UK)

Parma 1 - 0 Genoa
C Lucarelli 59 (P)
Stadio Tardini

Cristiano Lucarelli's goal proved enough to halt Parma's alarming slide, but they are still in the relegation zone.

It was do-or-die for Parma and Hector Cuper warned the most important thing was to finish the game with all XI men on the field after a slew of red cards in recent weeks. Because of that they were without the suspended Fernando Couto, Andrea Gasbarroni, Cristiano Zenoni, Luca Cigarini and Massimo Paci. They had just one win in eight games and also missed Andrea Pisanu, Bernardo Corradi, Igor Budan and Domenico Morfeo through injury. Genoa too had players missing due to bans, such as Fabiano and former Parma hero Marco Di Vaio.

McDonald Mariga held up the ball for Cristiano Lucarelli, but it didn't bounce kindly for him and he blasted it over the bar.

Mariga did even worse when he incredibly nodded wide of an open goal on Castellini's cross.

Parma took the lead eventually on the hour mark. Cristiano Lucarelli's header from a Reginaldo cross hit the bar, but it came back to him to get the second attempt on target from Morrone's assist.

Genoa had a good chance to equalise, but Giuseppe Sculli's lob was a little too long for Marco Borriello to tap into an empty net.

Parma: Pavarini; Coly, Falcone (Antonelli 70), M Rossi, Castellini; Dessena, Morrone, Parravicini (Anelli 95), Mariga; Reginaldo (Lorenzini 83), C Lucarelli

Genoa: Rubinho; Konko, Bovo, Criscito; M Rossi (Figueroa 66), Milanetto (Vanden Borre 80), Juric, Danilo; Sculli, Borriello, Leon (Wilson 75)

Ref: Trefoloni

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