Our prediction for this Serie B match:
After eliminating Venezia in the Serie B playoffs quarter-finals, Cagliari will look to move one step closer to securing elite division promotion when they take on Parma on Tuesday evening. The Sardinians are eyeing their sixth consecutive league win and they must be high on confidence ahead of the visit of the first leg. As always, a man to watch in the home team will be Peru forward Gianluca Lapadula, who scored a brace in the quarter-finals, while Edoardo Goldaniga is pushing for a recall to the starting XI.
The Gli Emiliani, on the other hand, finished the regular season in 4th place, with the team eyeing their fourth consecutive league win. Beating Cagliari on the road, though, is easier said than, which is probably the main reason why we are going to bet on draw. Midfielder Drissa Gui Camara is banned for the match, while defender Lautaro Valenti misses out with an ACL problem.
Highlighted Player (Gianluca Lapadula):
Gianluca Lapadula, also known as Lapagol, due to his goalscoring abilities, was born in Turin and started his career at Juventus youth team, but was released because he wasn’t doing well in his studies. After the departure with Juventus, Lapadula perfected his goalscoring skills in lower Italian leagues and even spent one year in NK Gorica, Slovenia.
During his spell in Ravenna, he managed to finish the season 2012/13 as the top scorer in the group, netting 24 goals in the process. For a long period of time, the 28-year-old was Parma’s player, but he went on loans often, and, after Parma went bankrupt, Lapagol moved to Pescara. With 30 goals in 43 appearances, the striker caught the eye of Serie A giant Milan. He netted his first goal for the Rossoneri only three minutes after he came on as a substitute.
The following season Lapagol became the striker of Genoa. Even though he was called to play for Peru, the Genoa hitman decided to represent Italy, getting his first call to the senior squad in November 2016. However, he never made an official appearance for Italy, since he only played an unofficial friendly against San Marino, when he scored a hat-trick.
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.