Prediction: Parma vs Lazio

Verdict: Both teams to score – yes

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: bet365

Serie A football returns from the international break with a potential banger at Stadio Ennio Tardini where Parma will play host to Lazio on Sunday afternoon. The hosts have adapted well to their life in the top flight and will be looking to make their presence known even further when they welcome high-flying Biancocelesti.

Parma

Parma Calcio 1913 went a long distance in just a three years’ time. Declared bankrupt following years of financial turmoil, the club was re-founded in Serie D in 2015 and went on to achieve three consecutive promotions to reach the top flight of Italian football in 2018.

Parma returned to the Serie A on the back of an automatic promotion, having finished the 2017/18 Serie B season in second behind champions Empoli. With four wins out of their last five Serie A matches before the international break – three of which came with clean sheets – Parma proved they have adapted well to top-flight life. Parma are currently sitting in ninth place in the standings, trailing their Sunday rivals by only two points and will have a gigantic opportunity not only to record their first win over Lazio since 2012 but to also make a huge leap up the league table.

Team News

Manager Roberto D’Aversa should have a full squad to pick from for the Sunday’s match. All eyes will be on the Ivory Coast international and former Arsenal and AS Roma forward Gervinho who scored three goals in his five appearances for Parma.

Lazio

Champions League contenders Lazio are coming off from a frustrating Serie A season which saw them miss out on the spot in Europe’s elite competition by an inch. Biancocelesti were forced to settle for a consolation prize – the Europa League – where they’ve endured mixed fortune at the beginning of the campaign.

Finishing within the Serie A top four will have been identified as the club’s priority for the 2018/19 season but with the Italian top flight getting more competitive each year such an aim will be hard to achieve. Lazio are currently sitting in fourth, one point ahead of Sampdoria and AS Roma and will be in desperate need of another three points in the league this weekend. Yet to register a single draw in the new season, Lazio have been on a fine in the early exchanges – winning five of their eight league matches – and will be hoping to extend the run. This will be their first trip to Parma since 2014 and Inzaghi’s men will want to make it memorable. With five goals to his name after eight rounds, Ciro Immobile will be the one to watch whereas the scouts will also be watching the Juventus, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Team News

Denmark defender Riza Durmisi has been ruled out due to an elbow injury.

Jordan Lukaku is a selection doubt with his knee issue. The Belgium midfielder is likely to be left out of the squad for the trip to Parma.

Key Factors to Consider

• Lazio were behind at half-time in three of their five away matches this season
• Parma kept three clean sheets in last three matches in the Serie A
• Parma score a first-half goal in all four league games played at home
• Hosts also scored at least a goal in seven straight home fixtures
• Ciro Immobile scored in in 3 of Lazio’s last 4 Serie A matches

Conclusion

Parma are riding high on confidence early in the season and will be eager to make the best out of the forthcoming fixture with Serie A top-four contenders. Lazio are still in search of consistency needed to launch a more serious Champions League challenge and this match could be as good as any to find it.

Verdict: Both teams to score – yes

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: bet365