Parma vs. Udinese - A Clash of Early Serie A Overachievers
The Serie A fixture between Parma and Udinese on September 16, 2024, brings together two teams who have surpassed early expectations this season. Parma, freshly promoted from Serie B, and Udinese, who are sitting high in the table, are set to battle at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in what promises to be an intriguing encounter.
Parma, under the guidance of manager Fabio Pecchia, has shown impressive resilience in the early stages of their comeback campaign. After drawing with Fiorentina on the opening day and securing a surprise victory against AC Milan, they traveled to face Napoli full of confidence. Despite leading the match with a penalty from Yoan Bonny, Parma suffered a dramatic late loss when goalkeeper Zion Suzuki was sent off, leaving defender Enrico Del Prato to fill in between the posts. Despite these setbacks, the team's youthful energy—averaging just 24 years of age across the squad—has been a bright spot. The Gialloblu faithful are hopeful that their team can build on this momentum, especially given their favorable home record against Udinese, having lost just one of their last seven encounters with them.
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Udinese, on the other hand, has had an equally strong start to the season. Under new manager Kosta Runjaic, they’ve collected seven points from three games and sit level with top sides like Inter Milan and Juventus. Their unbeaten run, extending from the end of last season, shows the steady progress they've made. Wins over Lazio and Como demonstrate their ability to grind out results, with Brenner proving crucial in the attack. With Alexis Sánchez still unavailable, Udinese will rely on Brenner and Florian Thauvin to spearhead their attack against a Parma side determined to protect their home ground.
As the game approaches, Parma will be without suspended goalkeeper Suzuki, with Leandro Chichizola stepping in, and may miss key players due to injuries, including Emanuele Valeri and Nahuel Estevez. Udinese will see Hassane Kamara return from suspension, adding depth to their lineup. Parma’s attackers, led by Dennis Man and Valentin Mihaila, will need to be sharp to overcome Udinese’s well-organized defense.
Prediction-wise, this game is tough to call, but Parma, driven by their passionate home crowd and history of strong performances at the Tardini, could edge it 2-1. Both teams have conceded plenty of chances this season, which may lead to an exciting, open contest. Regardless of the outcome, this clash between two early-season overachievers is sure to be one to watch.
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