Our prediction for this Serie B match:
All eyes will be on Stadio Mario Rigamonti when Brescia and Parma, the two old rivals, face each other in the Serie B derby. Brescia do not want to give up on their automatic promotion berth, and they are likely to fight tooth and nail against Parma. Midfielder Massimo Bertagnoli is widely expected to return to starting XI, while experienced attacker Rodrigo Palacio remains in the recovery room.
The Gli Emiliani, on the other hand, aim to build on back-to-back wins over Cosenza and Como, and given their attacking potential, we believe that over 2.5 goals betting option should be considered. Anyhow, the promotion-chasing hosts are closer to picking up all three points from the match than Goran Pandev and Co. As for the visiting side, veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon remains on the sidelines with injury, with the likes of Dario Sits, Roberto Inglese, and Francesco Cassata missing out as well.
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 (Parma):
Founded in 1913, Parma is considered one of the most famous Italian clubs. The Gialloblu play home games in white shirts with a dark blue cross and dark blue shorts. Speaking of their away colours, Parma footballers wear yellow-blue kits on the travels. Parma have yet to win the Serie A trophy, but they did well to lift the UEFA Cup trophy on two occasions (1994/1995, 1998/1999).
To make things even better for Parma fans, the Gialloblu won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1992/1993 season, with the team beating Royal Antwerp in the title game 3-1. A number of top-class footballers played for Parma in the past: Hernan Crespo, Roberto Mancini, Juan Veron, Roberto Mancini, Dino Baggio, Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluigi Buffon.
The Gialloblu welcome their rivals at Stadio Ennio Tardini, which was opened in 1923. The venue can hold up to 27,906 spectators. Bologna are considered Parma’s biggest rivals and there have always been fireworks in matches between the two sides.