Parma host Sassuolo at the Stadio Ennio Tardini on Saturday evening in Serie A with both sides desperately seeking to improve on their miserable start to the season.
The Crociati fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Atalanta last week courtesy of a 90th minute goal from Richmond Boakye and the result leaves Roberto Donadoni’s men rooted to the bottom of the table having taken just three points from their opening seven games.
The visitors on the other hand have fared little better and despite an admirable 1-1 draw with champions Juventus last week in a game which saw Simone Zaza give them the lead, they sit one place and one point above Saturday’s opponents in the Serie A table.
The Tardini then appears to be the setting for an early season relegation battle with Donadoni and his counterpart Eusebio Di Francesco already feeling the pressure after some poor performances, and indeed the Parma players have already felt the wrath of their own fans who demanded to speak to them following last week’s defeat.
If the Neroverdi are to avoid being leapfrogged they will have to upset history as in four previous meetings they have failed to get the better of the Gialloblu and last season’s game in Parma ended with a 3-1 victory for the home side.
Donadoni is without several long-term absentees including Jonathan Biabiany, Gabriel Paletta and Mattia Cassani while the more recently injured Raffaele Palladino and Cristobal Jorquera also miss out.
Missing for Di Francesco are goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo and defenders Lorenzo Ariaudo and Paolo Cannavaro.
Expected Starting XIs
Parma: Mirante; Lucarelli, Felipe, Mendes; De Ceglie, Mauri, Lodi, Acquah, Rispoli; Belfodil, Cassano
Sassuolo: Consigli; Acerbi, Terranova, Antei; Peluso, Missiroli, Magnanelli, Vrsaljko; Sansone, Zaza, Berardi
