Sabasports Match Preview
Italian Serie A: Empoli vs Parma
Kickoff Time: 2025-05-11 02:45 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
Empoli’s form has been abysmal, with an incredible 20-match winless streak in the league. Currently, the team is two points behind 17th-placed Lecce, putting immense pressure on their survival hopes. The main reason for this prolonged slump is a severe injury crisis. Key players such as striker Christian Kouame, striker Pietro Pellegri, attacking midfielder Tino Anjorin, and attacking midfielder Youssef Maleh are all sidelined due to injuries. Adding to the misery, top scorer Lorenzo Colombo, who has contributed five goals and two assists in the league, will also miss out due to a suspension. In the last match, after Colombo was sent off, Empoli had to field teenage strikers Ismael Konate and Thomas Campagnolo. Unfortunately, both young players lack the necessary experience for Serie A, as they recorded zero shots on goal, no dribbles, no fouls won, no offsides, and no ball recoveries. Due to the prolonged lack of victories, morale among the key players has plummeted, and without any star players to rely on, the coach finds it impossible to alter the current situation through rotation.
Since Cristian Eugene Chivu took over as head coach, Parma has adopted a pragmatic defensive counter-attack strategy. Although the playing style may not be visually appealing, often with only a 30% possession rate, the team has finally entered a recovery phase. In the past 10 league matches, Parma achieved two wins, six draws, and two losses, including notable performances like defeating Juventus, drawing against Lazio, and drawing with Inter. These results are highly convincing. Currently, Parma is six points clear of the relegation zone, and as long as the players maintain their form, they should be able to complete the relegation task successfully. In terms of tactics, Parma uses both a 3-5-2 formation and a 4-3-3 formation. While there are differences between the three-back and four-back systems, in reality, the team often strengthens their midfield defense to restrict opponents’ offensive advancement. On the offensive side, Parma’s advantage lies in the speed and flexibility on the wings. Players like Romanian international Denis Man and Swiss international Simon Sohm have sprint speeds of under 11 seconds during unmarked runs. Therefore, after abandoning possession-focused tactics, Parma’s ability to score from the wings has become evident.
Parma fans are very familiar with Empoli’s coach Roberto D’Aversa, as he briefly managed Parma from January 7 to May 24, 2021, but his record was disastrous: only one win, five draws, and 16 losses. That season, Parma finished at the bottom of Serie A and suffered relegation; it took them three years of hard work to return to Serie A this season. Some Parma fans and players believe that misplaced trust in Roberto D’Aversa’s coaching ability led to the team’s eventual relegation. Hence, when the two teams met earlier this season, tensions ran high, with a total of nine yellow cards issued. Now, facing this “alternative” chance for revenge, Parma will undoubtedly give it their all. This match favors Parma securing points away from home.
Empoli’s Last 5 Games: LLLDL
25-05-04 Empoli 0-1 Lazio
25-04-27 Fiorentina 2-1 Empoli
25-04-25 Bologna 2-1 Empoli
25-04-20 Empoli 2-2 Venezia
25-04-15 Napoli 3-0 Empoli
Parma’s Last 5 Games: LDWDD
25-05-03 Parma 0-1 Como 1907
25-04-29 Lazio 2-2 Parma
25-04-24 Parma 1-0 Juventus
25-04-13 Fiorentina 0-0 Parma
25-04-06 Parma 2-2 Inter
Head To Head Record:
24-10-17 Parma 1-1 Empoli
20-09-06 Parma 0-2 Empoli
19-03-02 Empoli 3-3 Parma
18-09-30 Parma 1-0 Empoli
18-02-17 Empoli 4-0 Parma
Prediction: Parma to win or Draw