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Parma logo
Serie A | Gameweek 5
Oct 25, 2020 at 2pm UK
Stadio Ennio Tardini
Spezia Calcio logo

Parma
2 - 2
Spezia

Gagliolo (34'), Kucka (90+2' pen.)
Grassi (5'), Hernani (23'), Sohm (90')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Chabot (28'), Agudelo (31')
Pobega (6'), Ferrer (85')

Preview: Parma vs. Spezia Calcio - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Serie A encounter between Parma and Spezia, including prediction, team news and possible lineups.

Pessimists and realists at both clubs will see Parma's encounter with promoted Spezia, on Sunday, as an early must-win game in the race for Serie A survival.

The hosts, at Stadio Ennio Tardini, are languishing in 18th place on three points, while their visitors are just one point better off.


Match preview

Parma manager Fabio Liverani pictured in October 2020© Reuters

Parma have suffered three defeats so far - against Napoli, Bologna and, last week, Udinese - with only one win against Verona to show for their efforts.

Coach Fabio Liverani has found the Dejan Kulusevski-shaped hole in his squad an impossible one to fill. Last season the versatile Sweden international often dragged the Gialloblu through games by sheer force of personality - and talent - alone. Roberto Inglese and Andreas Cornelius have misfired badly in his absence.

Not only that, but their defence has also become increasingly porous: Parma have conceded goals in nine of their last 10 Serie A games at the Tardini (16 in total).

What's more, they have lost 10 league matches since Italian football resumed in June - the most of those still in the division.

Having suffered heartbreak after Ignacio Pussetto struck in the 90th minute to cast them to a 3-2 defeat at Udinese last week, Liverani's charges now have what many would describe as an excellent opportunity to right the ship, at home against an inexperienced minnow.

Before that game, there were even question marks about whether it would go ahead, as in the preceding days, Parma had registered seven positive COVID-19 tests amongst their squad. Several of those players are still absent, but there is still enough quality available to their coach to field a team capable of turning over the visitors.

Spezia's promotion to the top flight was their first in an unassuming 114-year club history, but the Ligurians' start to life in Serie A has been a mixed one so far.

Coach Vincenzo Italiano has used the most players (26) in Serie A's opening four rounds, clearly suggesting he is unsure of the right approach to adopt for this potentially most challenging of seasons. In fact, only three players have managed to start each of their four games to date.

Encouragement can be gleaned, however, from their courageous resurrection against Fiorentina last weekend.

The Aquilotti, shorn of several first team players, found themselves two goals down within five minutes at their temporary home in Cesena. By the end of an all-in second half fightback, Italiano's men had salvaged a 2-2 draw, leaving several players hobbling around with cramp given the scale of their effort.

A significant injury list has not shortened much in the intervening week, but they will perhaps be satisfied with their current points-per-game ratio of four from four.

As underdogs once more, Spezia will aim to make life difficult for Parma's more established attacking trident of Juraj Kucka, Gervinho and Yann Karamoh, while hoping to steal a goal or two on the counter.

Historical precedent favours the hosts, as might be expected. After losing five of their first six matches against Sunday's visitors, Parma remain unbeaten in the most recent four - though each of those was contested in Serie B. Failure to add a fifth game to that run will start to see the pressure on ex-Lecce boss Liverani start to mount.

Parma Serie A form: LLWL

Spezia Serie A form: LWLD


Team News

Parma players, including Antonino Barilla, in action against Atalanta BC in Serie A on July 28, 2020© Reuters

There remains a long list of unavailable squad members for Liverani to contend with for Sunday's game.

Striker Inglese, Juan Brunetta, Matteo Scozzarella, Mattia Sprocati and Jacopo Dezi are among that number.

Additionally, veteran defender Bruno Alves registered a positive COVID-19 test before the Udinese game and is now self-isolating.

In midfield, only Jasmin Kurtic is assured of a starting jersey, but he is likely to be partnered with Hernani and Wylan Cyprien. Kucka is expected to play behind the elusive pairing of Gervinho and Karamoh, while Cornelius could feature from the bench.

Spezia have Bulgarian striker Andrey Galabinov, goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet, Federico Mattiello and Elio Capradossi injured, with Riccardo Marchizza and Giulio Maggiore still quarantining.

In defence Jacopo Sala should play on the right; Cristian Dell'Orco on the left, with captain Claudio Terzi and Julian Chabot paired centrally.

Their attacking trident should be comprised of M'Bala Nzola in the centre; Daniele Verde and Emmanuel Gyasi on the flanks.

Parma possible starting lineup:
Sepe; Laurini, Iacoponi, Gagliolo, Pezzella; Hernani, Cyprien, Kurtic; Kucka; Gervinho, Karamoh

Spezia possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Sala, Terzi, Chabot, Dell'Orco; Mora, Ricci, Deiola; Verde, Nzola, Gyasi


SM words green background

We say: Parma 1-1 Spezia

A close one to call, between down-on-their-luck Parma and overachieving Spezia. The inability of the Gialloblu to find a regular source of goals so far could prevent them from picking up a much needed three points at the Tardini.

Resilient Spezia, meanwhile, can continue to grind out results against the odds.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data

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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Spezia win with a probability of 37.98%. A win for Parma had a probability of 34.13% and a draw had a probability of 27.9%.

The most likely scoreline for a Spezia win was 0-1 with a probability of 11.5%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.01%) and 0-2 (7.02%). The likeliest Parma win was 1-0 (10.75%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.12%). The actual scoreline of 2-2 was predicted with a 4.6% likelihood.


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Udinese manager Luca Gotti pictured in July 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Parma30198357302765
2VeneziaVenezia30176756352157
3Cremonese30168640241656
4Como30167743331055
5Palermo30147952411149
6CatanzaroCatanzaro3014794739849
7Sampdoria30126124144-340
8Brescia3091293331239
9SudtirolSudtirol30108123939038
10Cittadella30108123439-538
11Pisa30910113638-237
12Reggiana3071673133-237
13Modena3081393540-537
14Cosenza CalcioCosenza30810123133-234
15BariBari30713102937-834
16Ternana3088143540-532
17AscoliAscoli30710133236-431
18SpeziaSpezia30613112842-1431
19FeralpiSaloFeralpiSalo3076173449-1527
20Lecco3056192858-3021


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