Last time we checked in, Parma had begun the season in dismal form. After a 0-0 tie to Catania, the Crociati were winless in their first four games of the season. Worse than that, they only scored two goals in that entire period.
It’s incredible how momentum shifts in the sporting world.
In their fixture following the draw to Catania, Parma took on Atalanta at home. While on paper the two teams matched well, Parma’s form thus far did little to suggest they’d put up much of a fight.
What followed was a torrential downpour of goals. Djamel Mesbah and Aleandro Rossi each scored once, with Marco Parolo scoring twice, to stave off Atalanta, who had three goals of their own (from Giacomo Bonaventura, German Denis, and Marko Lijava).
Where did all of the offense come from? Well, strangely enough, it came from mostly defensive players. Mesbah plays solidly on the defensive line, whilst Parolo and Rossi are more defensively minded midfielders. In fact, Amauri was sent off in the second half- eliminating one of Parma’s primary attacking options. Yet, they won.
Parma wasn’t done there, however. The game after that, they traveled away to face an incredibly lethal Fiorentina squad, coming off of a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Inter. It being a road game for Parma, combined with Fiorentina’s rage and, quite honestly, better players, left all of the commentators thinking that this was Fiorentina’s game for the taking.
Things, as is often the case, didn’t work out quite so simply. After no goals for 44 minutes, Parma’s Walter Gargano took a pass inside the box and scored. Who could have seen this one coming?
Fiorentina came out with more fire in the second half. They saw the humiliation a loss to Parma would bring, and they were determined to prevent it. A strike from Gonzalo Rodriguez in the 64 minute-mark would tie the game. Following that, Juan Vargas scored and gave Fiorentina the lead. Since Parma had had difficulty scoring all season, last week being the exception, it was unlikely Parma would be able to recover.
Come stoppage time, Parma midfielder Massimo Gobbi fired a shot past Fiorentina’s Neto to even the tally. Parma escaped Fiorentina with a draw. It was the shot heard round the world.
After the beginning of the season was such a disappointment, Parma has finally built some momentum. However, if they are to continue this impressive run of form, they must develop more of an attack. Finally, they have some goals to their name- scoring six in the past two games, after only two in the previous four. But, most of those have come from their defense and midfield. If these two games are to become a norm, Amauri and Antonio Cassano have to start adding more pressure. In fact, as Parma’s major signing this summer, Cassano really needs to score more often.
And, I know I say this every week, but Nicola Sansone needs to become more involved. Since teams like Parma struggle to spend as much money as the major clubs, they must develop their own talent. In Sansone, they have a promising youngster in need of game time to develop. Either play him more frequently or, if you think you will do better without him, loan him out for the second half of the season. Parma’s future lies with men like him.
Sitting at 15 in the tables, Parma takes on Sassuolo at home next. On paper, this is an incredibly winnable game for Parma. Sassuolo is last in the tables, with no wins in six games this season. If Parma can win that game, it will have gone a long way toward changing its fortunes this season.
