Overview
Just a few days after being eliminated from the Coppa Italia by the same city of Bologna, Parma promptly gave more motivation for the Serie A relegation battle with an important victory over Pisa.
Adrian Benedyczak's penalty goal in the first half helped Gialloblu overcome a struggling opponent at Arena Garibaldi, thereby rising to 15th place in the rankings with 14 points after 14 rounds.
Despite a slow start to the national cup, Parma have now won two of their last three Serie A games, equal to the number of wins they have won in their previous 16 rounds. This is a positive signal after a slow start under coach Carlos Cuesta at Emilia-Romagna.
With this excitement, Parma will aim to create a safer distance from the relegation zone with two home matches left to close the calendar year. Ahead of Fiorentina - a team also in danger right after Christmas - Parma will host Lazio, the opponent they defeated 3-1 in their most recent home match at Ennio Tardini.
At this time last year, the Emilia team ended a 9-match losing streak against Lazio, before continuing to win a 2-2 draw at Olimpico.
While Parma were eliminated in the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia team, Lazio recently qualified for the quarter-finals after a victory over AC Milan and will face defending champion Bologna in February next year.
Currently, coach Maurizio Sarri's team is 10th in the rankings and will need to significantly improve away form if they want to narrow the gap with the group competing for a place in the European Cup.
Lazio have won 14 of their 19 points at home at Olimpico, while their away record is a cause for concern. Not only did they lose their last two away games - both at the San Siro against Inter - and AC Milan - Lazio have not scored any goals in their last four away games.
In fact, before the trip to Parma, all of Lazio's away goals this season have come in a single game against Genoa, which took place more than two months ago.
Personnel situation
Parma will still be without Matija frigan, key centre-back Alessandro Circati and number one goalkeeper Zion Suzuki due to long-term injuries, but Carlos Cuesta could welcome good news with the return of two regulars in the starting lineup.
Midfielder Adrian Bernabe is likely to recover from his injury in time, while Abdoulaye Ndiaye could also return after overcoming a groin problem. In addition, Mariano Troilo is eligible to return to the starting lineup of the home team after serving a one-match suspension.
Up front, Cuesta has a number of options to support Mateo Pellegrino. However, Adrian Benedyczak and Jacob Ondrejka - who scored a double against Lazio in April - are still the leading candidates for the starting position.
On the opposite side, Lazio continue to put their trust in Valentin Castellanos as the main striker. Despite having to miss a few weeks due to injury, the Argentine striker has directly contributed to 5 goals of Biancocelesti in Serie A this season.
However, the away team will not have the service of Gustav Isaksen, a player who had to leave the field in the first half of the match against Bologna due to a shoulder injury. He will join Samuel Gigot, Nicolo Rovella and center back Mario Gila - who is suspended - absent from this away trip.
Expected lineup:
Parma: Corvi, Del Prato, Troilo, Valenti, Britschgi, Bernabe, Keita, Sorensen, Valeri, Ondrejka, Pellegrino.
Lazio: Provedel, Marusic, Patric, Romagnoli, Pellegrino, Guendouzi, Cataldi, Basic, Cancellieri, Castellanos, Zaccagni.
The match between Parma and Lazio takes place at 0:00 am on December 14 (Vietnam time).
