Serie A | Gameweek 26

Feb 22, 2025 at 2pm UK

Stadio Ennio Tardini

Parma vs Bologna

Match preview

With just two points to their name so far in 2025, Parma have lost their last four games under former boss Fabio Pecchia, who was sacked earlier this week, and now sit 18th in the Serie A table.

The promotion-winning coach had been on thin ice for some time, but Sunday's home defeat to a resurgent Roma prompted the Gialloblu's board to act and quickly appoint Cristian Chivu, a former Inter youth coach.

Chivu's first game in charge will be a local derby between two of Emilia-Romagna's top clubs, a baptism of fire for the former Inter defender.

After failing to find the back of the net last time out, each of Parma's last three goals have been scored by defenders - only one of their last ten has come from a striker.

Coupled with a poor defensive record, it looks like a recipe for relegation, but there are still plenty of points to play for between now and the end of the season.

Bologna are unbeaten in 10 Serie A meetings with Parma, including a goalless draw at the Stadio Dall'Ara in October, and won 3-0 on their last visit to the Tardini in February 2021.

More recently, the Rossoblu have enjoyed an impressive unbeaten run in Italy's top flight, becoming one of only three teams - along with Roma and leaders Napoli - not to have lost since the start of 2025.

A win or draw on Saturday afternoon will see Bologna avoid defeat in the first eight top-flight games of a calendar year for the first time in two decades.

With a game in hand on most of their closest rivals - the postponed match against AC Milan will be played next Thursday - Vincenzo Italiano's men are still in with a chance of repeating last season's top-five finish.

Fourth place is all they need to qualify for this year's Champions League, but given Italy's recent form in Europe, they could close the gap on Lazio and Juventus with two wins in the next few days.

Last week, Dan Ndoye's brace looked to have earned Bologna a point against Torino, before a late own goal gave the hosts victory at the Dall'Ara, and after a rare midweek break they will be looking to inflict further misery on Parma.

Recent Performance

Parma Serie A form:LDLLLL

Bologna Serie A form:DWDWDW

Bologna form (all competitions):DDWWDW

Team News

New Parma coach Cristian Chivu is expected to make only minor changes to the Gialloblu's tactical set-up this weekend, with a likely 4-3-3 formation still led by out-of-favour striker Ange-Yoan Bonny.

The home side have a long list of absentees, with Adrian Benedyczak - who has undergone surgery on an ankle injury - joining several others on the sidelines. Yordan Osorio and Milan Djuric have been ruled out, while long-term absentees Alessandro Circati, Mateusz Kowalski and Gabriel Charpentier are all unavailable.

Hernani and Valentin Mihaila are also doubts, while teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni is serving a suspension after being sent off last week.

Unlike their hosts, Bologna will only be without the Nordic duo of Emil Holm and Jens Odgaard, while Lewis Ferguson has overcome a thigh problem and influential winger Riccardo Orsolini has recently returned from injury.

Orsolini, who came on as an unused substitute last week, is unbeaten in seven Serie A games against Parma, having played a part in five of their league goals.

Six-goal striker Santiago Castro should once again beat Thijs Dallinga for the starting berth.

Possible starting lineup

Parma possible starting lineup:

Suzuki; Del Prato, Vogliacco, Balogh, Valeri; Keita, Bernabe, Sohm; Man, Bonny, Cancellieri

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; De Silvestri, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Orsolini, Fabbian, Ndoye; Castro