Serie A Preview: Juventus - Parma
Who: Juventus - Parma
When: Wednesday, April 16 2008, 20:30CET
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Turin
Juventus and Parma meet in their rescheduled match from week 31, which had to be postponed following the tragic death of a Parma supporter in the hours prior to the game.
Juve In Confident Mood
Juventus once again demonstrated last weekend that when it comes to playing the top teams, they almost always rise to the occasion. Goals from Alessandro Del Piero and Hasan Salihamidizc (2) led the Bianconeri to an impressive 3-2 win over Milan.
The result means that third-placed Juve will finish the season with a superb record of won three, drawn three in their six league matches against the rest of the big-four (Inter, Roma and Milan).
Juve have now all but secured their place in the Champions League next season, but they will be reflecting on what might have been, had they managed not to drop so many points against the clubs at the other end of the table.
On Wednesday they will face one of these teams, when they welcome Parma to the Stadio Olimpico, a side they drew 2-2 with earlier in the season.
There was huge controversy in that clash as Claudio Ranieri's men, having fought back from two goals down, had a seemingly perfectly good winning goal disallowed in injury time.
Parma Fighting For Points
Once upon a time Juventus against Parma was one of Serie A’s biggest fixtures, but the Crociati have never been the same since the big Parmalat scandal a few years ago, which rocked the club into turmoil.
Juventus have had the upper hand in the past several years as Parma have only beaten them twice in all competitions since 2000. Ranieri will be expecting three points but he will be prepared for a fight by the Gialloblu as The Tinkerman guided them to Serie A survival last season.
With six games to go in this current campaign, Parma are just a single point above the relegation zone, and this is their game in hand over the rest of their rivals.
The Gialloblu started well under new coach Hector Cuper, however they have since not won in three games, drawing their last two against Lazio and Empoli.
Parma have shown that they can frustrate the big teams in Serie A this season. They drew 0-0 with the mighty Milan earlier this term and back in week 19 they narrowly lost out 3-2 to Inter in a game which was marred by controversy and it was a game which Parma know they should have won.
No doubt they will go to Turin hoping to repeat the form they showed against the Milanese clubs. Juventus have struggled against the smaller teams and Parma are only too aware of this. However the Gialloblu have not won away from home in the league this season, picking up just seven points from 16 games.
Form Guide
Juventus
Serie A: Juventus 3-2 Milan
Serie A: Palermo 3-2 Juventus
Serie A: Inter 1-2 Juventus
Serie A: Empoli 0-0 Juventus
Serie A: Juventus 1-0 Napoli
Parma
Serie A: Empoli 1-1 Parma
Serie A: Parma 2-2 Lazio
Serie A: Siena 2-0 Parma
Serie A: Parma 2-1 Palermo
Serie A: Livorno 1-1 Parma
Team News
Juventus: Juve are without the injured Cristiano Zanetti, Jonathan Zebina, and Momo Sissoko, as well as long-term absentee Jorge Andrade, who is sidelined for the season.
Probable starting XI: Buffon, Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro, Salihamidizic, Camoranesi, Nocerino, Nedved, Del Piero, Trezeguet.
Parma: Ferdinand Coly and Andrea Pisanu both miss out due to injury, while Massimo Paci is suspended.
Probable starting XI: Bucci, Zenoni, Couto, Falcone, Castellini, Dessena, Mariga, Parravicini, Antonelli, Reginaldo, Corradi.
Players To Watch
Juventus: Alessandro Del Piero
The Golden Boy has been in his best form for a decade over recent months, and his goal against Milan last Saturday was his 14th in Serie A this season. It has also been reported in the Italian press that Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has promised him a place at Euro 2008.
Parma: Luca Bucci
The veteran shot-stopper could be in for a busy evening at the Stadio Olimpico. If Parma are to have any hope of getting anything from this game, they need the 39-year-old to roll the years back to the mid-90s, when he was a regular in the Italy national squad, travelling to the 1994 World Cup.
Prediction
It's difficult seeing any outcome other than a Juventus victory in this one. Parma are sure to put ten men behind the ball and play on the counter attack, but ultimately the Bianconeri will break through the barrier..
Juventus 2-0 Parma
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