Our prediction for this Serie B match:
There will be fireworks when Monza and Parma go head to head at Brianteo in a highly-anticipated Serie B game. Monza are eager to make amends for a 1-0 loss to Lecce, but the midweek game will be anything but a walk in the park for the home team. Both Dany Mota and Colpani are pushing for a start, while all Vignato, Marrone, D’Alessandro, and Ramirez remain in the recovery room.
The Gli Emiliani, on the other hand, impressed in a 4-0 win over Spal, and they are surely capable of matching Monza in Wednesday’s game. Gennaro Tutino is unlikely to feature against the Biancorossi after limping off with injury at the weekend, while this game comes too early for January signing Goran Pandev. Anyhow, a close encounter is on the horizon at Brianteo, and we are tempted to put our money on draw.
Highlighted Player (Vincent Laurini):
Vincent Laurini started his senior career at the age of 19 as he played for Italy amateur club Fossombrone. The full-back made 54 league appearances for the club between 2008 and 2010 and during that period Carpi scouts spotted him.
He signed for Carpi in 2010 and one year later he signed a new five-year deal with Biancorossi. Laurini played 57 games for Carpi and in 2012 he decided to move to Empoli. The Empoli full-back was born in Thionville, France, but he is eligible to play for both France and Italy. Laurini wears No. 2 shirt for the Azzurri and he made 25 league appearances for the club in the 2015/2016 Serie A campaign.
He scored one goal for Empoli during the season as he helped the team pick up one point from the match against Sampdoria. Despite being right-footed, he is capable of playing as a left-back. Laurini’s contract with Empoli 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.