Serie A Preview: Parma-Juventus
9/24/2005 10:30:00 AM
Serie A just rolls along this week as Parma and Juve square off in what could be an enticing encounter or just another day at the office.
Background
Parma got humbled against Roma on Wednesday. Roma solved their conversion problems and with their dominant field possession and open play opened a vulnerable Parma defence and a goal feast ensued. It seems that the inconsistencies continue and it could very well be another relegation year. Sanz the new owner of Parma has to react quickly to this situation or the knives will start to come out as the tifosi want results. Parma faces a difficult task to stop the juggernaut: Juve. Juve want to win as they do not want to give up points and the more points the celebrations could start sooner rather than later.
Juventus had a typical day at the office. All went smoothly and the beat Udinese 1-0 to stay top of Serie A. However, Fiorentina and Palermo are sharpening their steak knives to prepare to slash the points off of the old lady. Could something smell rotten in Denmark as Hamlet said and could Parma aid their cause; we shall see. Best bets are that Juve will come full swing and Juve are too sharpening their steak knives to cut to vulnerable Parma defence. Beretta has little time to find a solution and if you do not have one vs. Capello, then Juve will have another day at the office.
Team news
No suspensions and the same players are injured for both teams.
Players to watch
Lupatelli (Parma)
Can he recover from conceding 4 goals? If not Trezegol and Ibra could have a field day and add to their score sheet.
Ibrahimovic (Juventus)
Will start as Del Piero is benched. Capello is testing both of then to see their utility and if he wants to be the man, he must score and perform well. The next Van Basten? People say it, but he still has a lot or work to do to create his own name in the soccer world.
Probable Formations
Parma (4-4-2):
Lupatelli – Cannavaro, Cardone, Contini, Pasquale – Pisanu, Bolano, Simplicio, Bresciano – Morfeo, Corradi
Juventus (4-4-2):
Abbiati – Blasi, Thuram, F. Cannavaro, Zambrotta – Camoranesi, Giannichedda, Vieira, Mutu – Trezeguet, Ibrahimovic
Probable outcome
Expect Juve to come out full throttle to get the points. A loss would reflect badly on the team and deprive them of valuable points. Parma is a tough team at home, but Juve on their day can beat anyone. Expect a typical 1-0 win for the black and white (or red, yellow, blue or whatever they are now wearing).