Lazio v Parma – Preview: Buyoant Crociati Aiming To Dent Aquile’s Champions League Charge

Date: 28th April 2015 at 5:07pm
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Lazio welcome Parma to the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night in Serie A, with the match kicking off at 20:45 CET.

The Aquile are experiencing a mini-wobble after a 1-1 draw at home to Chievo on Sunday and welcome a Parma side seemingly playing with a care-free attitude at the foot of the table, currently giving their best performances of the season.

Unsurprisingly, the reverse fixture ended in a Lazio victory. The Biancocelesti came from behind to seal a 2-1 win in December with Felipe Anderson netting the winning goal to claim their 19th victory over the Ducali, who have beaten Lazio 12 times in their history along with 11 draws. In fact, Parma have only beaten the Aquile once at the Olimpico since 2003.

Stefano Pioli’s side had romped into the top two with nine wins in 10 outings before a lacklustre defeat to Juventus and an even-worse draw with the Gialloblu on the weekend.

That has left them three points clear of a resurgent Napoli, who sit fourth and one clear of city rivals Roma, as they continue to flounder in the latter half of the season.

With the Derby della Capitale on the agenda – as well as clashes with Napoli and Inter – before the campaign’s curtain call, this is a must-win fixture for Lazio.

However, the away team of Wednesday night may have accepted their fate but are currently managing to put off the inevitable.

Sunday’s 1-0 triumph over Palermo was their third-straight home victory by the same score-line, while Roberto Donadoni’s men have lost just one of their three most recent away trips.

Veterans Massimo Gobbi and Antonio Nocerino are re-finding their Serie A form, but defeat in the capital could leave Parma 18 points off safety with only 21 left to play for.

The hosts could be without striker Miroslav Klose after the German was forced off during the weekend game, taking the wind out of Lazio’s sails after scoring a fine goal to give his side the lead – his 11th of 2014/15. Filip Djordjevic, Stefan De Vrij (knee), Lucas Biglia (ankle), and Marco Parolo (rib) are also joined by Stefano Mauri and Lorik Cana in the treatment room.

Meanwhile, the Crociati have Daniele Galloppa (knee) and Jonathan Biabiany (heart) sidelined.

Form Guide: Lazio (W-W-W-W-L-D) Parma (D-W-W-L-D-W)

Expected Starting XIs

Lazio: Marchetti; Basta, Novaretti, Mauricio, Radu; Onazi, Ledesma; Candreva, Anderson, Lulic; Keita.

Parma: Mirante; Mendes, Costa, Feddal; Cassani, Mauri, Jorquera, Nocerino, Gobbi; Belfodil, Ghezzal.

 

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