Napoli-Parma, time to get some points on the road

By: Francesco | December 7th, 2007

Parma go into this game on a high, after winning 1-0 at home vs. Empoli. This match is the posticipo, which means it’ll be played at 8:30 PM Italian time, and since it’s a Napoli home game, US viewers can’t watch it. Damn you De Laurentiis, sell the damn rights to RAI International already!!!! The above picture is Parma’s last game against Napoli in Serie A, which occurred during the 2000/2001 season. Remember Marcio Amoroso? I think Parma decided to sign him after he scored this goal against us. More on the game after the jump.

So, let’s kick-off with ex-Parma players on the Napoli squad. Napoli will have 3 ex-Gialloblu facing us on Sunday, and they are:
Manuele Blasi - spent a year on loan with us in 2003-2004, he only made 12 appearances.

Matteo Contini-He arrived in 2004 from Avellino and left this past summer, he made 89 appearances and scored 2 goals.

Paolo Cannavaro -Fabio’s little brother came our way in 1999, and played with his brother in the center of defense. He spent 5 years here at Parma, making 94 appearances and scoring 4 goals before leaving to join Napoli as soon as they were promoted to Serie B.

The last time Napoli was in Serie A, which was the 2000-2001 season, Parma and Napoli drew at the San Paolo 2-2, Johan Micoud had given Parma the lead, only for Fabio Pecchia to tie it up at 1-1. Serbian striker Savo Milosevic gave Parma the lead in the 77th minute, only for Nicola Amoruso to tie up the game in the 84th minute. Then Napoli came to the Tardini and we thumped them 4-0.

The most recent meeting of Napoli and Parma was during the early rounds of the 2006-2007 Coppa Italia, where a newly promoted to Serie B Napoli side was defeated by the Gialloblu’ 3-1. Here are the highlights from that game:

Now let’s fast forward to the current game. Like I mentioned, we are coming off a 1-0 win over Empoli, while Napoli will be really fighting hard to win after their 5-1 loss in Bergamo last Sunday.

Di Carlo finally has a set formation and it looks like he will stick with his 4-2-3-1, which was also used in a friendly during the week against an amateur side where the Gialloblu’ came out on top 5-0. Bucci will be minding the net, Coly, Couto, Paci are sure starters in defense and with the injury to Paolo Castellini it looks like Damiano Zenoni will take over at left-back, however he may be overtaken by Alessio Tombesi. The most in-form players seem to be Luca Cigarini and Stefano Morrone in the middle, who are putting in great performances week-in/week-out. However, Luca “The Next Andrea Pirlo” Cigarini is suspended because of yellow card accumulation, which means either the average Francesco Parravicini steps in, or young talent Daniele Dessena partners Morrone in the center. I would go with Dessena, but knowing Di Carlo, he’ll most probably go with Parravicini. Il Capitano Corradi will be up top supported by Reginaldo, Pisanu, and maybe Morfeo. However with the injury to Gasbarroni Di Carlo may decide to go to a straight 4-4-2, with Reginaldo partnering Corradi up top and Dessena and Parravicini completing a midfield that consists of Pisanu and Morrone.

Here are the convocati, interesting note that Giuseppe Cardone is finally back from injury:

Goalkeepers

5. BUCCI
99. PAVARINI
69. VIRGILI

Defenders

3. CARDONE
33. COLY
24. COUTO
19. FALCONE
28. PACI
16. TOMBESI
2. ZENONI

Midfielders

23. DESSENA
17. MARIGA
10. MORFEO
4. MORRONE
55. PARRAVICINI
11. PISANU

Strikers

32. CORRADI
8. MATTEINI
9. PAPONI
83. REGINALDO

Unavailable: Budan, Castellini, Gasbarroni, M. Rossi

Suspended: Cigarini

In Danger of Suspension: Morfeo, Morrone, Parravicini, Zenoni

Napoli have a good side, and especially after that loss they will come out attacking and causing problems. The player too watch is Ezequiel Lavezzi of course, as he has the skill and flair to cause trouble to any side. The one thing Parma may have an advantage of is the wings, as Garics and Savini have proven not to be Serie A caliber this season and Reginaldo and Pisanu will be sure to give them problems.

For more on the Napoli side of things, visit Joe’s Napoli Blog.

A draw would be nice, a win would be a bonus. But I just hope we don’t throw away more points on the road. These are the games that matter when it comes to the Salvezza race.

Avanti Crociati!!