Our prediction for this Serie B match:
All eyes will be on Stadio Ennio Tardini when Parma and Cagliari square off against each other in the Serie B playoffs semis, return leg. Parma dropped a two-goal advantage in a 3-2 loss to Cagliari and, as a result, they face a must-win situation in the reverse fixture. Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon should keep his place between the sticks, while midfielder Drissa Gui Camara misses out through suspension.
Defender Lautaro Valenti is sidelined with an ACL injury. The Rossoblu, on the other hand, are likely to adopt a defence-minded approach in the return leg, which is probably the main reason why we are going to bet on under 2.5 goals. Angola forward Zito Luvumbo is widely expected to return to the starting XI after scoring a brace in the first leg, while defender Elio Capradossi remains on the sidelines with a meniscus problem.
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 (Cagliari):
Cagliari are a professional football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. I Rossoblu (The Red and Blues) compete in Italian Serie A and the club’s biggest success came in 1970, when they won the national championship.
Cagliari finished the season in top position in the standings, four points clear of Juventus and it has to be noted that Luigi Riva led Cagliari to their first Serie A trophy.
I Rossoblu welcome their rivals at Stadio Sant’Elia and the capacity of the stadium is 16,000. In the 1993/1994 season Cagliari made it to the UEFA Cup semis, with the team suffering a loss to fellow Italian club Inter in the two-legged tie.
Giuseppe Pancaro helped Cagliari record a 3-2 win over Inter in the first leg, but I Rossoblu were hammered by the Nerazzurri in the second leg (3-0). Palermo are regarded as Cagliari’s main rivals and the two teams square off against each other in the Derby delle Isole.