Our prediction for this Serie B match:
All eyes will be on Stadio Ennio Tardini when Parma and Lecce go head to head in a highly-anticipated Serie B game. The Gli Emiliani recorded a very important win at Vicenza, with the team keeping their playoffs hopes alive. Since Parma are ten points behind top eight, this has to go down as yet another must-win game for the home team. Goran Pandev is pushing for a start, while fellow veteran Gianluigi Buffon remains in the recovery room alongside Roberto Inglese and Francesco Cassata.
The Giallorossi, on the other hand, have drawn each of their last three league fixtures. Lecce aim to overtake Cremonese in top position, and they are likely to go all guns blazing at Parma. Anyhow, an interesting encounter is on the cards at Stadion Ennio Tardini, and we are tempted to put our money on both teams to score. The likes of Tuia, Helgason, Bleve, Gabriel, Di Mariano, and Farago should miss out with injuries for the away side.
Highlighted Player (Gianluigi Buffon):
Gianluigi Buffon is a legendary Italian goalkeeper. The 191-cm-tall shoot-stopper was born in Carrara, Italy on 28 January, 1978 and he began his senior career at Parma. After making 169 league appearances for the Gli Emiliani, he joined Juventus in 2001 and he has been playing for the “Old Lady” ever since.
Buffon is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of football and he won seven Serie A trophies with Juve. In 2006 he helped Italy clinch the FIFA World Cup trophy as they defeated France on penalties in the title game. He managed to keep no less than five clean sheets at the showpiece tournament in Germany.
Buffon set a number of records and it has to be noted that he is a goalkeeper with most number of clean sheets and penalty kicks saved in the Serie A. His mother Mara Stella was a discus thrower, while his father Adriano was a weightlifter. Gigi’s contract with Juve expires on 30 June, 2018.
Highlighted Team (Lecce):
When you imagine a yellow-red shirt, Lecce must be the first club that comes to your mind. Founded back in 1908, Lecce are Italian club that will compete in the Serie A in the 2019/2020 season. The Giallorossi return to the Italian top flight following a seven-year absence and, as always, they will host their rivals at Stadio Via del Mare.
The venue which was opened on September 11, 1966 can hold up to 33,876 people. The likes of Antonio Conte, Graziano Pelle, Javier Chevanton, Juan Cuadrado, Mirko Vucinic, Fabrizio Miccoli and Massimo Oddo are one of the most notable footballers who played for the Italian club in the past.
Lecce and Gallipoli face each other in the Salento derby and there have been fireworks in meetings between the two clubs since the 2009/2010 Serie B season when they first met in the league.