Our prediction for this Serie A match:
Stadio Ciro Vigorito will host Saturday’s football game between Benevento and Parma. The Gli Stregoni did well to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to Fiorentina, with the team shocking Juventus on the road thanks to Adolfo Gaich’s goal. Benevento are eager to escape the danger zone, but given the importance of the match for the visitors, home win should not be considered. All Depaoli, Letizia, and Iago Falque are rated doubtful for the hosts.
Parma, on the other hand, are desperate to give fans something to cheer about as they are sitting in bottom three ahead of Matchday 29. The Gli Emiliani are likely to leave their hearts on the field, and seeing that they want this win more than the hosts, we are tempted to put our money on the visiting team. Pezzella is banned for the visitors, while Iacoponi, Caviglia, Gervinho, Inglese, and Valenti are all sidelined with injuries.
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.