Parma Calcio 1913

Sitting 12th in Serie A with 42 points from 34 matches, Parma Calcio 1913 are discovering late-season momentum after navigating treacherous winter waters. I Crociati arrive here on the back of consecutive 1-0 victories—their most recent a hard-fought triumph over Sassuolo at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, following a gritty away win at Como. These back-to-back clean sheets signal a defensive steel that deserted them during their mid-season struggles. The form line of three wins from five represents a remarkable turnaround for Fabio Pecchia's men, who had looked vulnerable in the relegation scrap. Yet the narrative remains precarious. With just 25 goals scored all campaign—the third-lowest in Serie A—Parma's survival hinges on the brilliance of one man: Carlos Vicente. The electric right winger has netted 11 times, accounting for nearly half of his team's entire output. Behind him, the technical midfield pairing of Oliver Sørensen and Adrián Bernabé orchestrate play with precision, though their intricate passing often unravels at the crucial moment. Eight points clear of the drop zone with safety virtually assured, Pecchia can finally exhale. For a club with Parma's proud history—three-time Coppa Italia winners and two-time UEFA Cup champions—surviving by the heroics of one player is not sustainable. But Vicente's individual brilliance has bought I Crociati precious time to dream of rebuilding their former glory.

Parma favor a possession-based, patient build-up approach through their technically gifted midfield trio, though their struggles in the final third often force them into frustrating stalemates against organized defenses.