Following a streak of four straight wins, Como aim to continue their late surge up the Serie A standings when they visit relegation-threatened Parma on Saturday.
While the Lariani’s recent run has wrapped up another year in Italy’s top flight, their hosts still have work remaining to join them.
Match preview
Despite tightening up a leaky defence and becoming tougher to beat under new management, Parma have yet to rubber-stamp their Serie A survival, but victory on Friday – combined with favourable results elsewhere – would help them do so.
They have drawn six of their first nine games under Cristian Chivu, while winning twice, to move seven points above the drop zone with just four rounds remaining.
Having fought back to thwart title-chasing Inter Milan, then frustrated Fiorentina, the Emilian club stunned Juventus with a 1-0 win on their last appearance at Stadio Tardini, before taking a point home from Rome on Monday.
In fact, Jacob Ondrejka‘s brace put Parma in charge against an ailing Lazio side, but conceding two late goals then cost them a couple of precious points.
Still without an away win since beating Venezia in November, the Gialloblu have relied on their form at the Tardini to keep them clear of danger, and they are unbeaten in four outings there since Chivu replaced promotion-winning coach Fabio Pecchia.
A year after ascending from Serie B alongside Como, the pair clash again in Emilia-Romagna, following October’s 1-1 draw at Stadio Sinigaglia. Undefeated in their last 15 home games against the Lariani, posting nine wins along the way, they will now try to extend that trend.
While Parma are putting together their most consistent run of results this season, Como have taken one step further, surging away from trouble by posting four straight Serie A wins for just the second time to date.
The first was way back in 1952, and they have never won five consecutive matches in the top flight, so Cesc Fabregas and co could write a fresh page in club history this weekend.
Confirming another campaign among Calcio’s elite, the Lariani have beaten Monza, Torino, Lecce and Genoa while conceding only one goal, taking them into contention for an unexpected top-half finish.
After rising star Assane Diao suffered a season-ending injury in training, Gabriel Strefezza stepped back into the starting XI at home to Genoa last week and duly scored the winner, taking Como above Udinese in 11th place.
Such is their intensity under Fabregas, who is now being linked with high-profile jobs around Europe, they have scored the joint-most goals via high turnovers in Serie A – a tally of six is only matched by the top two, Napoli and Inter.
Having also scored in all of their last five away games – including six goals in the last two – the ambitious outfit now hope to beat Parma and gatecrash Italy’s top 10.
Team News
Expected to continue with his new 3-5-2 formation, Parma coach Cristian Chivu should pair Spanish striker Mateo Pellegrino and top scorer Ange-Yoan Bonny up front.
As a result, wingers such as Dennis Man and Pontus Almqvist may miss out again, while Matteo Cancellieri‘s presence is in doubt anyway, due to a thigh problem.
The latter could join a long absence list for the hosts, who are again without Alessandro Vogliacco, Adrian Bernabe, Valentin Mihaila, Adrian Benedyczak, Nahuel Estevez, Gabriel Charpentier and Yordan Osorio.
Meanwhile, Como cannot count on Alberto Dossena, Sergi Roberto and Assane Diao – all of whom are out for the rest of the season – but Maximo Perrone returns from suspension.
Real Madrid loanee Nico Paz has notched six goals and six assists since signing last summer, and the Argentinian star could join Jonathan Ikone and Gabriel Strefezza in the final third.
Struggling with a foot injury, Tasos Douvikas may not be fit enough to start, so Patrick Cutrone is on standby to lead the Lariani’s attack.
Parma possible starting lineup:
Suzuki; Delprato, Leoni, Valenti; Hainaut, Ondrejka, Keita, Sohm, Valeri; Pellegrino, Bonny
Como possible starting lineup:
Butez; Vojvoda, Goldaniga, Kempf, Valle; Caqueret, Da Cunha; Strefezza, Paz, Ikone; Cutrone
We say: Parma 1-1 Como
Having both adapted to Serie A after being promoted together last term, these sides could share the spoils for a second time this season.
While Como are full of confidence, the Tardini has recently become more of a fortress, meaning Parma should pick up at least one point.
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