Prediction: Parma vs Roma

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Bet365

Two sides who are looking to book their spot in the quarter-finals of this year’s Coppa Italia, Parma will welcome Roma to the Stadio Ennio Tardini on Thursday night.

Parma

Starting with the hosts, while Parma may have been hit with a thumping 5-0 defeat away at Champions League outfit Atalanta last week, Roberto D’Aversa’s men once again bounced back in some last time out. Putting in a dominant display and landing a 2-0 win over Leece at the Stadio Ennio Tardini on Monday night, the Crusaders have lost just one of their last six matches across all competitions and the mood in their camp remains at a continued high. Arguably Serie A’s surprise package heading into the New Year and likely to still be boosted by their shock 2-1 victory away at Napoli prior to the festive break, Parma find themselves sat as high as seventh in Italy’s top-tier and there is no doubt I Crociati have their sights firmly set on securing a European return this season. One man to potentially keep an eye out for in midweek and someone who has certainly saved his best performances for the Stadio Ennio Tardini has been one-time Cardiff flop, Andreas Cornelius. Finding the net against Leece earlier in the week, the Denmark international has bagged six goals for Parma since making a loan switch from Atalanta, it should also be noted that those six strikes have come in his last five matchups on home soil.

Team News

Aside from long-term injury absentee Yann Karamoh, Parma have a full-strength squad available for selection.

Roma

As for the visitors, after shipping two goals in the opening 10 minutes against Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico over the weekend and never managing to recover despite having 22 shots on the defending champions goal, their 2-1 defeat has now seen the Europa League outfit hit with back-to-back defeats. Also hit with a shock 2-0 loss at home against Torino when returning from the festive break, there is no doubt that Head Coach Paulo Fonseca will have some growing concerns over his side’s recent issues at the back. Failing to record a clean sheet in any of their last five matches across all competitions, it should also be noted that when Roma made the trip to Parma back in November, Giallorossi were hit with a worrying 2-0 defeat. However, since their loss at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, Thursday’s guests have arguably saved their best performances for away from the Stadio Olimpico. Including picking up a thumping 4-1 win away at Fiorentina last month, Roma are unbeaten in their last four matches on the road, winning three of those matchups. Even more impressive, Fonseca’s men have bagged at least a trio of strikes in all three of those victories.

Team News

Roma will be without the trio of Nicolo Zaniolo, Justin Kluivert and Davide Zappacosta.

Winger Javier Pastore is also a doubt.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off at the Stadio Ennio Tardini back in November, Parma picked up a 2-0 victory.
• Roma have scored at least a trio of strikes in three of their last four matches on the road.
• Parma striker Andreas Cornelius has scored six goals in his last five matches on home soil.
• Four of Roma’s last five matches across all competitions have seen both teams find the net.
• Parma have lost just two of their last 10 matches across all competitions.

Conclusion

While Roma may have been hit with a 2-0 defeat when they made the trip to Parma back in November, the European outfit have made a string of improvements away from the Stadio Olimpico. In what could be another high-scoring encounter and four of Roma’s last five appearances seeing both teams find the net by full-time, we’re backing a similar outcome at the Stadio Ennio Tardini on Thursday night.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Bet365