As the Serie A season approaches its second month, Parma and Cagliari find themselves in desperate need of points as they prepare to face off at Stadio Ennio Tardini on Monday evening. Both sides have endured difficult starts to the campaign, with just one league win between them, setting the stage for a tense encounter in Emilia-Romagna.
Parma, back in the top flight after promotion last season, have shown flashes of promise but have struggled to convert performances into points. Their most recent outing saw them salvage a dramatic 2-2 draw against Lecce, with stoppage-time goals from Pontus Almqvist and Antoine Hainaut rescuing a point in a match that saw both sides reduced to 10 men. While the late comeback demonstrated the fighting spirit in Fabio Pecchia’s young squad, it also highlighted ongoing issues with discipline, as Parma received their third red card in as many matches.
The Crociati have fielded the youngest team on average in Serie A this term, a testament to Pecchia’s faith in youth but also a potential liability in a league dominated by experienced players. Their home form offers some encouragement, having kept five clean sheets in their last seven top-flight encounters with Cagliari at the Tardini. However, their overall record against the Sardinians is less impressive, with just one win in their last 10 meetings.
Cagliari, meanwhile, find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table, still searching for their first league victory of the 2024-25 campaign. Manager Davide Nicola, known for his ability to rescue teams from relegation, faces a significant challenge in turning around the Rossoblu’s fortunes. Their recent form makes for grim reading, with three consecutive league defeats and a failure to score in their last three Serie A outings.
The Sardinians’ lone bright spot came midweek with a narrow Coppa Italia victory over Cremonese, courtesy of a Gianluca Lapadula strike. However, their league form remains a major concern, having netted just once in five matches – a statistic reminiscent of their struggles at this stage last season under Claudio Ranieri.
The match presents a crucial opportunity for both sides to kickstart their seasons. Parma will be eager to capitalize on home advantage and build on the momentum of their late heroics against Lecce. For Cagliari, breaking their scoring drought and securing a positive result could prove vital in building confidence for the long relegation battle that likely lies ahead.
Team News
In team news, Parma will be without the suspended Matteo Cancellieri following his dismissal against Lecce, likely paving the way for Romanian wingers Dennis Man and Valentin Mihaila to support Yoan Bonny in attack. Midfielders Hernani and Simon Sohm are expected to shake off minor knocks, but Nahuel Estevez and Adrian Benedyczak remain sidelined. The hosts have also been dealt a blow with the news that Australian defender Alessandro Circati will miss the remainder of the season due to a serious knee injury.
Cagliari, having rotated for their cup tie, are expected to field a full-strength lineup. Only Mateusz Wieteska and Matteo Prati are doubtful, with the latter nursing an ankle problem. Strike duo Roberto Piccoli and Zito Luvumbo are likely to lead the line as the visitors search for their first league goal since the opening weekend
Expected Starting XIs
Parma: Suzuki; Del Prato, Balogh, Osorio, Coulibaly; Bernabe, Hernani; Man, Sohm, Mihaila; Bonny
Cagliari: Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Luperto; Zortea, Gaetano, Marin, Deiola, Augello; Luvumbo, Piccoli
Match Prediction
Prediction: Parma 2-1 Cagliari
