Post by Taxigirl on Jan 10, 2004 11:28:32 GMT
Live on British Eurosport (7.30pm UK time)
Stadio Tardini
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Parma face a real test of their mettle as they must put the club crisis aside and concentrate on beating one of Serie A’s most on form sides.
The Gialloblu were applauded for keeping cool under pressure and taking a 2-0 victory at Ancona on Tuesday, but this is altogether a different set of circumstances for the relatively young players. A crucial shareholders’ meeting on the future of the club will be held on Friday and it can prove a major distraction for the stars. Antony Seric is ruled out through suspension while Daniele Bonera is injured, so Brazilian Junior steps in.
So far this season Parma have had mixed fortunes against the Scudetto contenders. They held Milan to a 0-0 draw at the Tardini and beat Lazio away, but were soundly thrashed by both Roma and Juventus. Perhaps the team feels that it is the underdog in Serie A following the sale of so many big names and Adriano’s devastating injury. The Brazilian may well have played his last game with the club, as he is reportedly set to make a swift return to Inter.
The Nerazzurri are certainly confident going into this clash, as they have closed the gap from the leaders to just five points. Since Alberto Zaccheroni took charge of the club, they have notched up a remarkable seven wins, a draw and a single defeat at Lazio.
Christian Vieri is creeping up the Capocannoniere charts thanks to his ninth of the campaign in that 3-1 win over Lecce, but the danger man will perhaps be Julio Ricardo Cruz. We should see the return of Alvaro Recoba to the starting eleven in place of Obafemi Martins, but Marco Materazzi, Francesco Coco, Cristian Zanetti and the suspended Matias Almeyda remain sidelined for this clash.
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Parma (probable): Frey; Cardone, Castellini, Ferrari, Junior; Barone, Donadel; Marchionni, Morfeo, Filippini; Gilardino
Inter (probable): Toldo; Cordoba, Adani, Cannavaro; J Zanetti, Emre, Lamouchi, Pasquale; Recoba, Vieri, Cruz
