Stadio Ennio Tardini units the stage for a ‘make or break’ Serie A showdown between relegation-battling Parma and leaders Napoli. Lots is at stake for each groups, albeit for totally completely different aims.
Parma’s hopes of avoiding a direct return to Serie B took one other hit final weekend. Second-from-bottom Empoli netted a late winner to topple them 2-1 at Stadio Carlo Castellani. Shedding Lautaro Valenti to a second yellow card halfway via the primary half set the tone for the Crusaders’ downfall in Tuscany.
Regardless of Parma’s dire run of only one level from their final three Serie A outings, they’re nonetheless narrowly outdoors the underside three. Nevertheless, they head into proceedings frantically trying over their shoulders, with 18th-placed Lecce 4 factors behind. That does imply an unlikely win in opposition to title-bidding Napoli would safe survival with a recreation to spare.
Sadly for the Emilia-Romagna trustworthy, that’s simpler stated than finished. The guests are in better want of three factors after a gut-wrenching 2-2 dwelling draw in opposition to Genoa final outing compromised their possibilities of lifting a second Scudetto in three years. Their slender lead over Inter is just one level forward of the penultimate spherical.
With the second-placed reigning holders taking over Lazio, Napoli could end the job this weekend with a fourth consecutive win in opposition to Parma. But, that’s a feat they’ve by no means achieved of their top-flight report, suggesting they have to rewrite their historical past books to dethrone the Nerazzurri. With a possible title-clinching weekend on the horizon, demand for Napoli tickets is hovering as followers look to witness one other historic success.
Match Preview
Parma
The house workforce’s type has been in freefall towards the top of the marketing campaign. Certainly, Parma have solely managed one win from their final ten league video games (D6, L3). Regardless of that unenviable report, Cristiano Lucarelli believes Cristian Chivu’s aspect can hinder Napoli’s title quest by way of CalcioNapoli.
Visiting Napoli could be well-advised to not take Lucarelli’s warning flippantly, given Parma’s behavior of upsetting the division’s heavy-hitters at dwelling. Along with exceptional wins in opposition to AC Milan, Lazio, and Bologna, they held Inter and Juventus to high-scoring attracts on the iconic Tardini Stadium.
Nevertheless, current slumps should have created panic among the many dwelling followers, and Napoli’s go to doesn’t bode properly. A heartbreaking 2-1 defeat in August’s reverse fixture marked Parma’s third successive league loss in opposition to this opposition. Furthermore, the Crusaders conceded exactly twice in every assembly.
Napoli
With title hopes on the road, Napoli should not let off-field distractions stand of their manner. For example, Antonio Conte is aware of higher than to let rising hypothesis about Kevin De Bruyne’s arrival from Manchester City overshadow the rapid process forward.
Regardless of final weekend’s slip-up, Napoli’s unbeaten league streak stands at ten matches (W6, D4). That alone ought to be sufficient to banish worry among the many touring trustworthy, as ought to Partenopei’s narrow 1-0 win at Lecce on their final Serie A journey.
Giacomo Raspadori was the architect of that win, however Napoli will seemingly flip to Scott McTominay to encourage one other favorable end result. The Scottish midfielder has been in scintillating type this season, racking up an attention grabbing 15 aim contributions in his first Serie A marketing campaign.
Nevertheless, there’s a observe of warning. Napoli have dropped factors in each away league encounters in opposition to newly promoted golf equipment this season (D1, L1). Towards this backdrop, they boast a near-perfect report in opposition to pre-round bottom-five sides (W8, D1).
Staff Information
Along with the suspended Valenti, Parma can’t name upon a number of different first-team stars. Adrian Bernabe, Matteo Cancellieri, Gabriel Charpentier, Nahuel Estevez, Valentin Mihaila, Yordan Osorio, and Alessandro Vogliacco had been all absent from final weekend’s journey to Empoli attributable to accidents.
Alternatively, Napoli could welcome star center-back Alessandro Buongiorno again from a thigh drawback. Nevertheless, Juan Jesus stays on the therapy desk. Fortuitously for Conte, the guests haven’t suffered any recent harm issues down the ultimate stretch.
Parma vs Napoli Potential Beginning Line-ups
Parma (3-5-2): Suzuki; Del Prato, Leoni, Balogh; Valeri, Keita, Ondrejka, Sohm, Hainaut; Bonny, Pellegrino.
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Olivera, Spinazzola; McTominay, Lobotka, Zambo Anguissa; Politano, Raspadori, Lukaku.
Parma vs Napoli Prediction
Parma are greater than able to giving Napoli a run for his or her cash, however the Partenopei ought to get three treasured factors over the road. A single-goal margin wouldn’t shock anybody, particularly contemplating the character of the guests’ wins beneath Conte.
Prediction: Napoli to Win
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